While the Los Angeles Dodgers’ offense has struggled at times with bouts of inconsistency this season, Corey Seager has largely been among the few immune to such peaks and valleys.
Earlier this month Dodgers manager Dave Roberts referred to the 22-year-old rookie as the best player on the Dodgers roster. Per Baseball-Reference, Seager’s 3.2 WAR entering play on Sunday is second on the team behind Clayton Kershaw (4.6).
The young shortstop earned his first All-Star Game honors and also participated in the Home Run Derby. Seager blasted an impressive 15 homers, but was trumped by Baltimore Orioles outfielder Mark Trumbo in a tough first-round matchup.
Seager leads the Dodgers this season with 17 home runs, which is only two shy of the Los Angeles single-season home run record by a shortstop that Hanley Ramirez set in 2013.
The surprise power production isn’t something Seager necessarily had an explanation for, according to Cary Osborne of Dodgers Insider:
“No I didn’t. I really didn’t. I never expected it,” Seager said. “I’ve always been more of a doubles than home runs guy. I never really had that extra juice to get it out.”
“I really don’t know,” Seager said. “It’s probably more scouting reports. You get so much information about what they’re going to throw and sit on pitches and sit on locations where they like to throw. Just (a) better game plan on getting better pitches to drive.”
Seager entered Sunday leading the Dodgers in several categories, among them total hits (108), batting average (.297) and doubles (24). Throughout his Minor League career, the smooth left-handed batter never hit more than 20 home runs in a single season.
He finished with 18 homers last year in time spent with Triple-A Oklahoma City and Double-A Tulsa.
