Already without Justin Turner as he was recovering from a fractured wrist suffered in Spring Training, the Los Angeles Dodgers lost Corey Seager to season-ending Tommy John surgery one month into the 2018 season.
Seager’s absence created a void that was admirably filled by Kiké Hernandez and Chris Taylor until the Dodgers acquired Manny Machado prior to the non-waiver trade deadline. Great as a talent Machado is, Seager’s absence was still felt.
While recovering from Tommy John surgery, he underwent a hip operation but the projection remained Seager would make a recovery by the time camp opened at Camelback Ranch this year. He was eased into game action and otherwise had a smooth recovery from the two procedures.
Seager to this point has yet to replicate the same rhythm he had as a Rookie of the Year winner in 2016 or during a 2017 All-Star season. Though, there have been flashes, and the 25-year-old is steadily rounding into form.
“You get more comfortable every game that you play,” Seager said after the Dodgers’ comeback win that completed a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates. “It was a long time (to miss), in the beginning there was little things that you forget about. It’s starting to normalize, for sure.”
Seager had just one hit Sunday afternoon, but it was a two-out, two-run double that cut the Dodgers’ deficit to 5-4 in the fifth inning. It also provided an opportunity for Max Muncy, who blooped a game-tying RBI single into right field.
The Dodgers’ first four batters in the lineup — Joc Pederson, Seager, Muncy and Cody Bellinger — went a combined 5-for-14 with four runs scored, a double, home run, seven RBI and one walk. “That’s what you want,” Seager said of the collective effort.
“You want to start the tempo, kind of get things going. We did a good job of that.”
The home run unsurprisingly came courtesy of Cody Bellinger, who tied an MLB record with 14 before May 1. Bellinger’s assumed the spotlight that went to Seager during each of his first two full seasons with the club.
“He’s been really good. He’s been in a good spot, stayed in a good spot, he’s working. That’s what you want,” Seager said.
After running a gamut of 20 consecutive games against National League Central opponents, the Dodgers now begin a three-game set with the San Francisco Giants on Monday.
“You’ve got to come out and start playing,” Seager said. “It’s a new series, a new mindset, and we’ll be ready to go.”
