Corey Seager entered the 2019 season as a bit of an unknown for the Los Angeles Dodgers, returning from Tommy John surgery that ultimately limited him to just 26 games a year ago. While recovering, he additionally underwent an arthroscopic hip operation.
Prior to his elbow procedure, Seager had solidified himself as one of the league’s top shortstops on both sides of the ball. But whether he would return to that form remained a mystery until he was able to again prove himself on the diamond.
In what has been a 2019 campaign filled with many ups-and-downs, Seager is finally finding more consistency at the plate. He has caught fire as of late and looks more like the player that captured unanimous 2016 National League Rookie of the Year honors.
Seager credited a steady dose of playing time for allowing him the opportunity to find his groove, via Jorge Castillo of the L.A. Times:
“Just reps, figuring things out again,” Seager said. “Getting to a place where you can repeat it and keep repeating it, basically.”
After struggling for the better part of July, Seager has bounced back and turned the corner in August. In 22 games this month, he is hitting .272/.322/.543 with 13 doubles, three home runs and 11 RBI over 87 plate appearances.
Over his last 13 games in particular, the 25-year-old has recorded 17 hits in 50 at-bats — good for a stellar .340 batting average. During that span, he has additionally collected nine doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI while striking out just six times.
Seager played a pivotal role in the Dodgers’ walk-off victory over the Toronto Blue Jays last week. With runners at second and third, he delivered a game-tying, two-run double before eventually scoring the winning run on Kiké Hernandez’s flare single.
In Monday’s opener against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, Seager tallied his 37th double of the season, tying him with the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Josh Bell for the Major League lead.
He is now three doubles shy of matching his career-high of 40, which was accomplished during in an accolade-filled 2016 season.
In 106 overall games this season, Seager is batting .272/.345/.463 (112 OPS+) with 12 home runs and 57 RBI across 429 trips to the plate.
