Washington Nationals Rookie Espinosa Leaves Game in Agony

*Update:  Espinosa was seen "gingerly" walking around the locker room shortly after the game Tuesday night.  A precautionary X-ray is forthcoming but team doctors expect the results to be negative.  The injury is being described as just "a bad bruise" according to the Washington Post.

Heading into 2011, one player is generating more anticipation than any other. 

It's not Stephen Strasburg, as he's still six months away from being fully healthy. 

It's not Bryce Harper; he likely won't even sniff the big leagues this season.

It's Danny Espinosa, the rookie second baseman who burst on the scene for the last few weeks of the 2010 season.

So far this Spring, he's been looking like a future Gold Glover, with his combination of power and poise in the batter's box makes any baseball fan excited.

His official rookie campaign came to an abrupt halt Tuesday night, as he fouled a ball off his foot in the seventh inning against the New York Mets.

Espinosa had to be carried off the field by two of his coaches and appeared unable to put any weight on his injured foot at all.

Obviously, it's too early to gauge the extent of the injury. Nationals fans can only hope there's a chance he'll be ready to go by Opening Day. 

A broken foot most likely wouldn't allow that.

Coming into the game Tuesday night, Espinosa was batting .324 for the Spring with two doubles and two home runs to go along with his extraordinary fielding.

Here's hoping he makes a swift recovery.