While the Los Angeles Dodgers intended to promote Corey Seager to the Majors last September, their decision was accelerated a bit due to Jimmy Rollins’ injury. Seager arrived with high expectations and somehow managed to exceed them.
Appearing in 27 games, the then-21-year-old hit .337/.425/.561 with eight doubles, one triple, four home runs and 17 RBIs. Seager usurped Rollins as the Dodgers’ starting shortstop in the process.
Seager became the youngest position player to start a postseason game in franchise history when he was in the lineup against the New York Mets for Game 1 of the 2015 National League Division.
The promising shortstop entered this season rated baseball’s top prospect and a heavy favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year.
Again, Seager has outplayed the lofty expectations. According ESPN’s Doug Padilla, Yasmani Grandal is somewhat surprised by how well Seager has fared to this point:
“I didn’t think he was going to be as good as he is right now in his first year, but I knew he had the talent to do it,” catcher Yasmani Grandal said. “He kind of blew my mind when I was down in Triple-A for that rehab assignment [last season]. He was spraying balls, sitting on pitches. He’s very smart and knows what he wants to do. He’s been able to stay there the whole year, and it just seems like he’s getting better. And it’s scary to say that.”
Not only was Seager selected to the 2016 All-Star Game, he also participated in the Home Run Derby. He enters play on Friday batting .306/.361/.529 with 30 doubles, 19 home runs and 51 RBIs.
Seager’s 19 homers are tied with Hanley Ramirez for most by a Los Angeles shortstop in a single season. Along with being in the thick of the conversation for Rookie of the Year, Seager has played his way into the discussion for the MVP Award.
He leads the Dodgers in total hits (128), batting average, slugging percentage, on-base plus slugging (.890), triples (three), doubles and wRC+ (129). Seager and Justin Turner are tied for the team lead in home runs.
