Editorials

Corey Seager: The Rookie Sensation

In a season that’s been plagued by injuries, trade rumors, heartbreak (Vin’s final season), and frustration, the Dodgers biggest offensive asset has shined bright all season long. Corey Seager is having a rookie season to remember for the Dodgers, leading the Dodgers in nearly every offensive statistical category and is quickly becoming one of MLB’s best shortstops.

Seager is a virtual lock for Rookie of the Year Award with his biggest contender being Cardinals shortstop, Aledmys Diaz who still falls shy of Seager in many statistical categories. Should Seager win rookie of the year, it would be the first time since 1996 when Todd Hollandsworth won the fifth consecutive ROY award for the Dodgers.



Rookie of the year

The young shortstop has been the heart of the lineup, posting veteran-like numbers. Seager is leading the team in Batting Average (.306), Home Runs (19), Hits (128), Games Played (104), Runs (71), Doubles (30), Triples (3), Total Bases (221), OBP (.361), SLG (.529), and is the Dodgers highest ranked WAR player (wins above replacement) at 4.2. This type of production is worthy of the high praise Seager has received in the minors and through his short stint in the majors.

Is Corey Seager Having a MVP Caliber Season?

Out of all of Seager’s numbers, perhaps his 19 home runs stand out above all, as his home run last night tied a club record for most home runs hit by a Dodger shortstop. Seager is also in position to chase down Dodgers’ broadcaster, Nomar Garciaparra’s rookie home run record that he set in 1997 with 30 home runs with a little over 2 months to go in the season.

Seager’s home run production has been to the delight of many fans this year, but as Dodgers’ beat writer Bill Plunkett tweets, his HR production has only slightly picked up from his minor league numbers, so it shouldn’t come to the surprise of fans.

Coming into the season as Baseball America’s top MLB prospect, Seager has not failed to live up to the hype.

Dodgers News: Corey Seager Sets Record for Most Doubles By A Dodger Rookie

Seager has become the youngest Dodger ever to make the All-Star team and participate in the Home Run Derby. Although an early elimination in the Home Run Derby, Seager’s early career success suggest the Dodgers have found their shortstop of the future and perhaps the future face of the MLB with all these young, transcendent talents emerging.

It’s not often that top prospects live up to their potential, let alone manage to exceed those expectations. Yet, Seager has done just that. At age 23, Seager has shown great poise through his first full season and has proven to be fundamentally sound with the bat and the glove. Seager continues to break rookie record and manager Dave Roberts believe Seager will continue to break his own records as his career develops.

“I think Corey is a special player, and I’m sure he is going to break that record and continue to break his own record going forward, “ manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s here to win baseball games, and obviously when you get a player of Corey’s caliber, it makes you a pretty good coach.”

Seager’s early signs of professionalism could be attested to the Seager brothers finding major league success. With Seager’s older brother, Kyle Seager starting at third base for the Seattle Mariners and younger brother, Justin Seager, playing in Double-A, the brotherly rivalry prepared the trio to constantly have that competitive drive.

Aside from Seager’s sibling rivalry, I, personally, have been a strong believer that the ball player that Seager has turned into today has been greatly influenced by the leadership and support of veteran teammate, Chase Utley.

Not only do Utley and Seager have chemistry turning double plays over the middle of the diamond and hitting at the top of the order, but also Seager’s locker sits next to Utley’s inside the Dodgers clubhouse.

Actions like this lead me to believe that Seager is motivated to become a solid player in and outside of the clubhouse like Utley’s 14-year career turned out to be. Seager has publicly said that he followed Utley growing up and has had high praise about the veteran’s impact on his career.

“Just watching his at-bats, watching him grind through at-bats – I’m lost for words how impressive it is,” Seager said. “Watching him as a fan while I was growing up, you just think he’s this great player. He’s just that much better than everybody. But you watch him work – he grinds everything out, his attention to detail is off the charts.”

Dodger fans can only thank Utley for his leadership with Seager, as Seager has blossomed into their best position player at only 23. With a little over two months left to finish the season, the Dodgers are going to need Seager to continue his solid hitting if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs.

NEXT: The 15 Most Notable Major Leaguers To Play for The Dodgers and Red Sox

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Staff Writer

Staff Writer features content written by our site editors along with our staff of contributing writers. Thank you for your readership.
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