Defending World Series Champions Place 5-Time All-Star on Injured List

The Texas Rangers’ 2023 season was defined by an eclectic group of veterans and youngsters coming together to deliver the franchise its first-ever World Series championship.

The Rangers’ 2024 season has been defined by injuries.

Continuing an unfortunate trend in Arlington, the Rangers are placing Corey Seager on the 10-day injured list with hip discomfort. General manager Chris Young informed reporters of the move Wednesday.

According to the reports, 26-year-old outfielder Sandro Fabian will take Seager’s place on the Rangers’ active roster. Fortunately, Young told reporters it’s possible Seager will not need surgery, and has a chance to return this season.

Unfortunately it won’t matter to the Rangers, whose season is cooked either way.

Texas is 66-73, third place in the American League West and 8.5 games behind the Kansas City Royals for the third and final Wild Card berth in the AL. They practically have an entire starting rotation on the injured list in Jacob deGrom, Jon Gray, Tyler Mahle, and Max Scherzer. Relievers Josh Sborz and Jacob Latz are hurt too, having been sidelined since August with shoulder fatigue and forearm tightness, respectively.

On the position-player side, Evan Carter — a breakout outfielder during the Rangers’ 2023 run to the World Series — has been sidelined since May due to lower back tightness.

Just like he was a year ago, Seager has been the Rangers’ best player this season. The 30-year-old shortstop is hitting .278 with 30 home runs and 74 RBIs. It’s the third consecutive season Seager has reached the 30-home run mark. In parts of seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2015-21), Seager topped out at 26 home runs.

The Rangers inked Seager to a 10-year, $325 million contract prior to the 2022 season. He’s been key to the resurgence of a franchise that had not been to the World Series since 2011, which the Rangers lost for the second consecutive season.

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For now, the Rangers’ resurgence is on hold. The team had been hoping to have a healthy Scherzer and deGrom anchoring a starting rotation comprised of two former Cy Young Award winners.

The plan never came together. DeGrom is still on the minor league rehab trail as he attempts to return from Tommy John surgery performed last year. Injuries to Scherzer’s back and shoulder have limited him to eight starts.

For now it seems the Rangers — and maybe Seager — will have to wait until next year.