Corey Seager has been the heartbeat of the Texas Rangers since the day he signed his ten year, $325 million contract back in 2021. A World Series ring in 2023 proved every dollar of that investment was worth it. And right now, for the first time since putting on that uniform, fans are genuinely worried about him.
But before the panic sets in completely — history might just be on his side.
The Struggles Are Real
Let’s not pretend everything is fine. Seager has looked genuinely uncomfortable against off speed pitches this season, pulling the ball more than usual and showing none of the smooth, controlled swing that made him one of the most feared hitters in baseball for the better part of a decade.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller didn’t hold back, naming Seager the most scrutinised player on the entire Rangers roster. The question being asked openly is whether this is simply a rough patch or something more permanent — a 32 year old shortstop genuinely starting to decline with five and a half years still left on a $325 million contract. That’s the kind of question that makes front offices lose sleep.
The Complicating Factor
It’s also worth noting that Seager isn’t dealing with this in isolation. Back issues have been a problem and he currently finds himself in concussion protocol — two factors that absolutely could be playing a part in the diminished performance at the plate. It’s hard to find your rhythm against major league pitching when your body isn’t fully cooperating.
His whiff rate has spiked to levels nobody associates with Seager, and his OPS currently sits nowhere near his career .871 mark across the previous eleven seasons. On paper that’s alarming.
Here’s Where History Gets Interesting
But dig a little deeper and there’s a pattern that should give Rangers fans genuine hope. Seager has historically been a significantly better hitter after Memorial Day than before it — a quirky but well documented trend throughout his career.
And crucially, his barrel rate remains as excellent as ever. The quality of contact when he does connect hasn’t disappeared. He’s still hitting the ball hard. He’s just not connecting consistently enough right now — which, paired with his historical post Memorial Day surge, suggests this could be more of a timing issue than a genuine decline.
What The Rangers Are Hoping For
Once Seager clears concussion protocol and gets his health fully sorted, the front office is banking on that familiar summer version of their franchise star reappearing. The one who carried this team to a championship. The one whose bat alone could change the entire complexion of a game.
History says it’s coming. The Rangers desperately need it to arrive sooner rather than later. ⚾🔥
