Diamondbacks Veteran Carlos Santana Struggles with Injury

Slumping first baseman exits Sunday's game against Braves, IL stint not yet planned

Apr. 6, 2026 at 5:00pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball player in the batter's box, their form broken down into overlapping geometric planes in muted earth tones.A cubist interpretation of a struggling veteran baseball player, his form deconstructed into fragmented geometric shapes.Phoenix Today

Arizona Diamondbacks veteran first baseman Carlos Santana is off to a rough start this season, entering the weekend as the worst-qualified position player in Major League Baseball. Santana exited Sunday's game against the Atlanta Braves at Chase Field due to an undisclosed injury, though the team says an IL (injured list) stint is not imminent.

Why it matters

Santana is a 17-year MLB veteran and a key part of the Diamondbacks lineup, so his struggles and potential injury are concerning for the team as they try to compete in the NL West. Injuries to veteran players can often derail a team's season, so the Diamondbacks will be closely monitoring Santana's status.

The details

Santana's early-season slump has seen him batting under .100 with no home runs and just 2 RBIs. He exited Sunday's game against the Braves for undisclosed reasons, though the team says an IL stint is not immediately planned. The Diamondbacks will likely continue to evaluate Santana's condition and determine if he needs time on the injured list to recover.

  • Santana entered the weekend as the worst-qualified position player in MLB.
  • Santana exited Sunday's game against the Braves at Chase Field.

The players

Carlos Santana

A 17-year MLB veteran and first baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona that plays in the National League West division.

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What’s next

The Diamondbacks will continue to monitor Santana's condition and determine if he needs to be placed on the injured list to recover.

The takeaway

Veteran players like Santana dealing with injuries and slumps can be a major challenge for teams trying to compete, as their production is often crucial to a team's success. The Diamondbacks will need to carefully manage Santana's situation to minimize the impact on their season.