After nine years in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, Corey Seager signed a 10-year, $325 million contract with the Texas Rangers.
Although Seager will not spend his entire career in L.A., he became a franchise hero in just a short amount of time, winning multiple awards and carrying the team to their first title since 1988.
After he officially signed his contract with the Rangers, the Dodgers posted a video with the caption “Forever a champion” that highlighted his accomplishments and thanked him for everything he did for the organization.
Seager was selected by the Dodgers in the first round — 18th overall — in the 2012 MLB Draft and quickly rose through the prospect rankings, becoming the consensus top prospect in baseball before his debut.
Forever a champion. pic.twitter.com/8GS6TJMF6F
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) December 1, 2021
The then-21-year-old Seager made his MLB debut against the San Diego Padres on Sept. 3, 2015. He went 2-for-4 with two RBI, and fittingly, his first career hit was a double.
The following season, Seager took over as the full-time shortstop and batted .308/.365/.512 with 26 home runs. The production placed him third in MVP voting and made him the unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year.
In 2017, Seager had another phenomenal season and helped lead the Dodgers to their first National League pennant since 1988. Although they didn’t win the World Series, largely due to the Houston Astros cheating scandal, it was a magical season with Seager at the core of it.
In 2018, Seager was limited to 26 games as he underwent Tommy John and hip surgery. He returned in 2019 and had a solid yet unspectacular season.
The next year, Seager was ready to prove he was among the game’s best hitters. However, his campaign to demonstrate as much was shortened to just 60 games because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Seager played in 52 of the games and finished the season hitting .306/.358/.585 with 15 home runs, but the postseason is truly where he made his mark.
The Dodgers’ path to the World Series title was a strange one as 16 teams made the playoffs. They were forced to play a Wild Card Series despite being the top seed, had to deal with COVID protocols and play at a neutral site beginning in the National League Division Series.
But Seager didn’t let any of that get in the way and he had a playoff run for the ages as he hit .328/.425/.746 in 18 games with eight home runs.
Seager was named the NL Championship Series and World Series MVP during the run as the Dodgers finally brought a championship trophy back to L.A. He joined Orel Hershiser as the only Dodgers player to win both NLCS and World Series MVP in the same year.
In his final season with the Dodgers, Seager came out swinging a hot bat again but he was limited to just 95 games after fracturing his hand when he was hit by a pitch.
During the 2021 postseason, Seager tied Justin Turner for the Dodgers franchise record of 13 postseason home runs.
Although he is no longer with the team, Seager will always be a Dodgers’ hero and a champion.
Seager rejected contract extension
Prior to the start of the 2021 season, the Dodgers approached Seager with a long-term contract extension that he rejected in Spring Training.
The Dodgers reportedly offered an eight-year, $250 million deal, but turning it down wound up being a financially prudent decision as Seager received two more guaranteed years and an additional $75 million from the Rangers.
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