While the Los Angeles Dodgers went into Spring Training with plans to lighten the workload for their regulars and veteran players, they weren’t given much of a choice with Corey Seager because of last season’s injuries.
Seager was slowed by a sore right elbow during the second half of 2017, then he suffered a back injury in the National League Division Series that sidelined him for the Championship Series. While Seager returned for the World Series, he wasn’t his usual productive self.
As his elbow continued to give him trouble through September and into October, Seager publicly mentioned that offseason surgery was a possibility. Instead, the Dodgers relied on rest and rehab for the 2016 National League Rookie of the Year.
Seager reported to camp fully recovered from his back and elbow issues, but the Dodgers nonetheless have him on a limited throwing program. He’s also restricted from playing shortstop at present time.
While the spring offers Seager and the Dodgers the luxury of time, they won’t necessarily have that benefit come the regular season. It’s then that Seager is still uncertain of what trouble, if any, his elbow may cause, per Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times:
“I don’t know if there will be management to it,” Seager said. “I’m hoping there won’t. It will just be probably a lot of stuff in the training room, strengthening stuff, more than managing pain.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently estimated Seager would only need 10 games at shortstop to prepare himself for Opening Day — March 29 at Dodger Stadium. A timetable for when the 23-year-old may throw at full distance or seen the field has not been given.
Entering Tuesday, Seager has twice been in the lineup as a designated hitter and gone a combined 1-for-6 with one RBI and one strikeout.
