Last week, the Texas Rangers placed shortstop Corey Seager on the injured list with what the team initially called hip discomfort. However, the Rangers announced on Thursday that Seager will undergo season-ending sports hernia surgery on Friday.
Corey Seager appears to have played his last game of 2024. 😔 https://t.co/htwRl3Pugj pic.twitter.com/4iTZKbeUHM
— theScore (@theScore) September 13, 2024
This will mark Seager’s second sports hernia surgery in 2024. The five-time All-Star previously underwent the procedure on his left groin in January. However, the two surgeries are unrelated, as Friday’s procedure will be on Seager’s right side. He is expected to be fully ready by Spring Training.
Corey Seager to Undergo Season-Ending Sports Hernia Surgery
While the 2024 season has been disappointing for Texas as a team, Seager was having an excellent campaign. In 533 plate appearances, the 30-year-old hit .278/.353/.512 with 30 home runs. He started the year slowly, likely due to his offseason sports hernia surgery. But Seager rebounded strongly and represented one of the best hitters in the game since May. Plus, he paired this offense with great defense (5 Defensive Runs Saved and 5 Outs Above Average).
Sad to see it end with another hernia surgery, but yet another great year from Corey Seager.
– .278 AVG
– .865 OPS
– .512 SLG
– 30 HR
– 74 RBI
– All-Star
– Reached 200 Career HRInjury was first reported by @Evan_P_Grant. pic.twitter.com/0JkReujMMz
— Michael Bier (@MichaelJBier) September 13, 2024
Due to his slow start, Seager’s solid offensive production this year still represents a step back from his stellar 2023 season. Last year, he posted a 1.013 OPS and led the American League with 42 doubles in just 119 games. Seager carried that success into the postseason, helping the Rangers win a World Series and earning World Series MVP honors. A few weeks later, he finished second in American League MVP voting.
Seager’s postseason heroics and great overall production make his 10-year, $325 million contract look solid. Long-term free agency deals often turn bad pretty quickly. However, Seager has been worth every penny so far.
Corey Seager with his 250th career double!
Seager is just the 6th primary shortstop in MLB history with 200+ HR and 250+ 2B. pic.twitter.com/b3TbeayaVt
— Jared Sandler (@JaredSandler) September 1, 2024
That said, Seager dealt with injuries throughout his tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Rangers gambled that Seager’s body would hold up in Texas. So far, the star will play in 123 games or fewer in two of his three seasons in Texas. Though the Rangers don’t seem too concerned about his upcoming hernia surgery, it can’t be a positive sign that Seager keeps having to deal with health issues.
In Seager’s absence, Texas will turn to the versatile Josh Smith to man shortstop.
Photo Credit: © Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
