Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager has been slowed during Spring Training in years past, though this time around it hasn’t been due to minor injuries cropping up but instead his continued recovery from Tommy John and arthroscopic hip surgeries.
Seager was projected to be available by the start of the 2019 season at the time his right elbow was operated on. His timeline remained the same upon last August’s hip surgery.
While Seager was active in workouts at the onset of Spring Training, he was initially restricted from throwing across the diamond and swinging a bat. He cleared those hurdles and recently began fielding his position in Minor League games at Camelback Ranch.
Seager went from three innings to five innings in his second game playing shortstop, but hasn’t had a ball hit to him either contest. He wishes that wasn’t necessarily the case but is otherwise content to be crossing off the checkbox, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
“Still got three ABs, moved around, got some jumps,” said Seager. “It would be nice to get some balls, but it’s still good just being on your feet, moving around, getting up and down.”
Seager is next expected to play seven innings on Monday, and if all continues to go well, will then advance to a Cactus League game. All along the Dodgers have maintained the 24-year-old will play come Opening Day, which is now less than two weeks away.
Although Seager may need time to work into a rhythm at the plate, the organization has maintained they have a greater focus on getting him acclimated to playing the field on a regular basis.
