With all the accolades and achievements, it’s understandable that Dodger fans are excited over Seager what brings to the team. The Dodgers roster has its share of veterans, some of who are oft-injured, and in a sports town that covets showmanship as well as winning, Seager might just fit the bill.
But will he? If so, how long will it take him to get to that level? Doing well in the Minors is certainly a good start, but does not guarantee success at the next level. Nor can one draw concrete conclusions from Seager’s short but highly successful stint in the Majors at the end of last season.
As Yasiel Puig can tell you, what’s important is how he reacts to Major League pitchers after they’ve seen him multiple times and begin to adjust. With that in mind, Seager got off to a slower-than-expected start this season — particularly defensively.
Part of the reason could have been the knee sprain he suffered in March, which caused him to miss a sizable chunk of Spring Training. Seager has already committed three errors at shortstop after five last season.
He’s started 19 of 21 games played, batting .247/.301/.400 with five doubles, one triple and 12 RBIs. Seager has appeared in all but one of the Dodgers’ games this season entering Thursday, and twice came off the bench with an opposing left-hander on the mound.
Whatever stumbles he may encounter this season, the shortstop position undeniably belongs to Seager. Despite the pressure he faces, Seager stands to benefit from the calm influence of playing alongside veterans Adrian Gonzales, Howie Kendrick, Justin Turner and A.J. Ellis.
Come the second half and presumably postseason games, however, the Dodgers will rely on Seager and other youngsters, Kiké Hernandez and Joc Pederson to contribute. Seager represents the Dodgers’ vision of competing now for a World Series and in years ahead.
And if there’s a player who has the skill set, personality and demeanor to withstand the pressure, it’s the Dodgers’ 22-year-old shortstop.
