Corey

Seager

Seager is battling a calf injury but was able to go through on-field workouts before the game, and the Rangers clearly decided that he could suit up. With Seager at designated hitter against a left-handed pitcher, that will push Josh Smith into the lineup at shortstop and batting ninth.

Seager is expected to be ready for Thursday’s season opener against the Red Sox, barring an unforeseen development. The 30-year-old fantasy star was held out of a pair of exhibition contests earlier this week for precautionary reasons due to calf soreness.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy told reporters it’s not a serious concern. However, it’s worth noting with Opening Day on the horizon. The 30-year-old fantasy stalwart has dealt with a laundry list of physical issues the past few years, but it hasn’t adversely impacted his on-field performance. Barring something unexpected, Seager should be ready for Thursday’s season opener.

Seager took Mariners starter Emerson Hancock deep in the opening frame for his first round-tripper of the spring. The 30-year-old fantasy stalwart is getting a bit more brittle as he ages, but he’s surpassed 30 homers in three consecutive seasons since arriving in Texas. He’s a top-10 shortstop for fantasy purposes, even if he only suits up for 120 games.

He delivered a pair of two-run doubles and walked. Seager had been having a quiet spring, having come into the day 5-for-31 with one extra-base hit. While Seager did post his worst strikeout rate since 2019 last season, there aren’t yet many signs of decline here. He’ll likely provide top-notch production over the course 120-130 games.

Seager tagged Diamondbacks’ left-hander Blake Walston for a two-run blast to open the scoring in the third inning. That would be his lone hit in three trips to the plate on the afternoon. For the spring, the 30-year-old superstar shortstop is hitting .214 (3-for-14) with a homer and a pair of RBI.

Seager underwent sports hernia surgery last September after finishing last season on the shelf due to hip soreness. The 30-year-old fantasy stalwart has become a bit more brittle as he ages and is far from a lock to stay healthy for a full season anymore. The fantasy upside has remained, as he’s been a consistent 30-homer power source since arriving in Texas. It’s an encouraging development that he’s entering spring training without any limitations.

Ahmed seems like a perfect fit for the Rangers as an emergency bench option at the outset of next season with superstar shortstop Corey Seager coming off sports hernia surgery. The 34-year-old veteran remains a certifiable defensive wizard at this stage of his career, but he offers next to nothing from an offensive standpoint after slashing just .232/.278/.303 with one homer and one steal in 172 plate appearances over 52 contests last year between the Padres and Dodgers.

Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young told reporters Seager, who underwent core muscle surgery back in mid-September to address a sports hernia, is expected to be ready for spring training without any limitations. It’s an extremely positive development for fantasy managers as the 30-year-old four-category stalwart should enter 2025 as a slam-dunk top eight shortstop following three consecutive 30-homer campaigns.

The Rangers are getting their $37 million-per-year starting pitcher back from the 60-day IL today but replacing him there is the $32.5 million-per-year shortstop. Seager is out for the season after deciding to undergo sports hernia surgery.