Corey Seager was one of three Los Angeles Dodgers named to the National League roster for the All-Star Game. At 22 years old, Seager becomes the youngest position player in Dodgers history to be elected to the Midsummer Classic.
Joc Pederson was 23 years old last year when he became the first rookie position player in franchise history to start in the All-Star Game. Like his teammates and fellow selections Kenley Jansen and Clayton Kershaw, Seager is bound for Petco Park next week via the players’ vote.
Although Seager trailed in fan voting by a significant margin in each of the weekly updates, his inclusion in the All-Star Game was widely perceived to be a forgone conclusion.
While his first time as an All-Star will be a whirlwind experience in itself, it’s appears Seager will have the same busy schedule Pederson did last year, and Yasiel Puig in 2014.
According to J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group, Seager said he will participate in the 2016 Home Run Derby:
Not sure if this is out there or not, but Corey Seager said he will take part in the Home Run derby Monday.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) July 7, 2016
Major League Baseball has yet to announce the participants for the Home Run Derby. As for the stigma it has an adverse affect on a player’s swing, that doesn’t appear to be of much concern for the young shortstop, per Andy McCullough of the LA Times:
Seager said, in essence, that it the Derby messes with his swing, he'll just fix it.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) July 5, 2016
Seager has hit 17 home runs this season, which leads the Dodgers and is third-most amongst NL shortstops. Most will point to Pederson as a prime example of a player being thrown off course by the Home Run Derby.
He lost in the final round and went on to struggle mightily in the second half. However, it should be noted Pederson already began to scuttle as the All-Star break approached.
