After a strong showing over the final month of the regular season last year, Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager entered 2016 as a favorite for National League Rookie of the Year.
To say Seager has met expectations is an understatement. The 22-year-old helped carry the Dodgers offense while veterans Adrian Gonzalez, Howie Kendrick and Justin Turner were slow out of the gate.
Whether facing right- or left-handed pitching, Seager has continued to excel at the plate, all the while playing a steady shortstop. On Thursday, he tied Hanley Ramirez’s 19 home runs for most hit in a single season by a shortstop in Los Angeles franchise history.
Glenn Wright holds the franchise record with 22 homers hit for Brooklyn in 1930. On Saturday, Seager etched his name in history.
With the Dodgers leading the Boston Red Sox by one run, Seager connected for an RBI double to extend their lead, via the club’s Twitter account:
Double No. 31 ?
Just call him @coreyseager_5, breaker of #Dodger records. #Stud ?https://t.co/Onz1zOyH8f
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 6, 2016
The double was Seager’s 31st on the season, which broke Eric Karros’ Dodgers rookie record, set in 1992. On the season, the Dodgers’ promising shortstop is batting .303/.357/.523.
He leads the team batting average, hits (192), doubles, on-base plus slugging percentage (.800), and is tied with Justin Turner for the lead in home runs. Seager’s play has not only garnered him Rookie of the Year consideration, but he’s also entered the MVP discussion.
The Dodgers conclude their three-game series against the Red Sox with a rubber match on Sunday. Los Angeles will continue the homestand with three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies, followed by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
