While he was initially expected to be eased into the lineup, Corey Seager usurped Jimmy Rollins and became a regular for the Los Angeles Dodgers immediately after he was called up in September 2015.
Seager carried that role into 2016 and earned his way to a unanimous National League Rookie of the Year Award. He was also named to the All-Star Game in 2016 and 2017, and hit his way to a Silver Slugger Award in both years.
Seager was again counted on to be one of the anchors in the Dodgers’ lineup, but he underwent Tommy John surgery in early May and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. Arthroscopic left hip surgery followed in August.
At the time of his Tommy John operation, the Dodgers said Seager was expected to make a full recovery in time for Opening Day of the 2019 season. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman recently reaffirmed that projection, even with Seager undergoing a second procedure.
“Obviously that was one of the many injuries we dealt with this year and he’s a middle of the lineup guy that plays every day and can change the course of the game with one swing of the bat,” Justin Turner said of his teammate.
“He’s still in L.A. rehabbing, so I’ve seen him a couple times and had a couple conversations with him.”
While Turner and the Dodgers are anticipating Seager’s return, it’s likely the organization will err on the side of caution in the early going. Turner is mindful of that and will look to ease any frustration Seager, who has a reputation for pushing to play, may encounter.
“Just try to keep him from jumping off a cliff if he’s taking it slow at the beginning of the year because it is a long season,” Turner said. “And we’re going to want him around and healthy at the end of the year if we want to accomplish winning a World Series.”
