ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals placed center fielder Rick Ankiel on the 15-day disabled list this morning so that they could return their bench to full and healthy strength. Outfielder Shane Robinson, one of the leading hitters for the Class AAA affiliate, was promoted and will be activated before today’s game.

“I think the important thing here is that Rick will get regular treatment, and he’ll get a chance to recover without the day-to-day rigors of playing at the major-league level,” general manager John Mozeliak said.

Ankiel will go to the team’s facility in Jupiter, Fla., to begin his rehab.

By being at the club’s spring training campus, he’ll be able to take part in baseball activities while also being close to his offseason home. Mozeliak said he does not expect Ankiel’s absence to linger past the 15 days mandated by the move. But he added with 13 pitchers on the roster the team cannot go without a completely healthy bench. Carrying a player who cannot play handcuffs the manager.

Robinson just came off the disabled list at Triple-A Memphis. He was on with a cyst on his right calf — a soreness that was considered a roadblock to his promotion. In Omaha on Wednesday night, Robinson started and scored three runs.

His asset is speed and a high-average bat. The combination of the two allows him to compensate for a lack of power by turning singles into doubles. At Class AA Springfield last season, he often turned a walk into a run with his ability to steal bases and take extra bases.

“Speed. Defense. He’s a very complete player,” Mozeliak said. “Look at the tools he has. He can provide extra-base hits, and I think he showed in spring training that he’s a high-energy player. The situation we’re in with only 12 position players means you need to have everyone available.”

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