ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Corey Seager was put on the 10-day injured list Wednesday because of right hip discomfort that could end the All-Star shortstop's third season with the Texas Rangers.
The move was made before the Rangers played their series finale against the New York Yankees. Seager didn't play Tuesday night after being the designated hitter in the series opener.
Seager also didn’t play in Friday's series opener against Oakland while dealing with the hip issue. Manager Bruce Bochy said Seager has felt soreness for about a month.
General manager Chris Young said the club didn't have the medical diagnosis to declare Seager's season over with 23 games remaining, but Bochy indicated as much.
“It’s good that we are taking care of it,” Bochy said. “Get this done so he can heal up over the winter and all set to go next spring.”
Young, Bochy and Seager said the decision to go on the IL was influenced by the reigning the World Series MVP missing almost all of spring training after surgery in January to repair a sports hernia.
While saying “I hope so,” when asked if he would play again this season, Seager said he had the offseason in mind with this move.
“You can’t miss two offseasons,” Seager said. “You’ve got to be healthy and get back into the work and get back into shape. Didn’t really have any buildup last year coming into the season. It’s something that you need to have.”
The Rangers have the same concern after their first World Series title helped lead to the late hernia surgery that keep Seager out most of spring training.
“The season went so long for a great reason,” Young said. “And then when Corey’s offseason training began, he felt the discomfort and we were at a point in the offseason where it was late, by no fault of anybody’s, just the nature of the timing.
“This year, if he’s dealing with something and we don’t know what that is yet, to diagnosis and understand what it is, and then prescribe a rehab program, whatever that may be, to make sure he has a normal offseason, is critically important.”
Texas entered the finale of the New York series 8 1/2 games out of the last AL wild card. Seager's absence will mean more time for Josh Smith at shortstop.
Texas promoted outfielder Sandro Fabian from Triple-A Round Rock to take Seager's spot. The Rangers made room for Fabian on the 40-man roster by moving right-hander Jon Gray (right foot) to the 60-day IL.
“I hate saying this, but it's one of the positives of where we are in the standings in September,” Young said. “With an expanded roster, we get a chance to look at some guys and evaluate and determine who can make an impact in 2025 and beyond.”
Seager is hitting .278 with 30 home runs and 74 RBIs in 123 games. He reached 30 homers for the third season in a row since signing his $325 million, 10-year contract with Texas as a free agent.
After his brief spring training, Seager had just two homers and eight RBIs his first 29 regular-season games. But the 30-year-old has hit .296 with 27 homers and 66 RBIs since May 3.
“As good as he is, you’ve got to be somewhat healthy to hit 30 home runs, especially when you look at his start,” Bochy said. “It was awful, and he’ll tell you that. For three months or so, he was healthy.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Texas Rangers' Jonah Heim runs the bases to score on a single from Corey Seager during the seventh inning of the first game of a baseball double header against the Chicago White Sox, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Texas Rangers' Corey Seager, right, celebrates with Josh Smith after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Texas Rangers' Corey Seager hits a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
ATLANTA (AP) — Haynes King threw a go-ahead 4-yard scoring pass to Jamal Haynes early in the fourth quarter and Georgia Tech overcame two touchdown passes by Maalik Murphy to beat Duke 24-14 on Saturday night, handing the Blue Devils their first loss.
Sahmir Hagans gave Duke a 14-10 lead on a 65-yard touchdown pass from Murphy late in the third quarter.
Haynes, who ran for 128 yards on 19 carries, capped a 14-play drive which covered 85 yards by catching the soft pass in the right side of the end zone for a 17-14 lead. King padded the lead with a 9-yard scoring pass to Eric Singleton Jr. with 6:36 remaining.
Georgia Tech (4-2, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) dominated the first half and then recovered after blowing a 10-0 lead.
Duke (5-1, 1-1) failed to extend its best start to a season since winning its first seven games in 1994.
King was busy as a runner and passer, often taking off on keepers. He had 12 carries for 30 yards while completing 23 of 31 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Backup quarterback Zach Pyron added a 2-yard scoring run to cap the Yellow Jackets' opening drive.
Murphy passed for more than 200 yards for the sixth consecutive game, completing 18 of 31 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. Ahmari Harvey ended Duke's last possession with an interception with 11 seconds remaining.
Duke's Todd Pelino was wide right on a 43-yard field goal attempt with 3:58 remaining.
Georgia Tech took a 108-10 advantage in total yards in the first quarter and led 10-0 before a pass interference call on Syeed Gibbs against Hagans. Hagans appeared to trip on the play before Gibbs intercepted the ball before the apparent turnover was wiped out by the penalty.
On first down from the Georgia Tech 20, Murphy threw a short pass to Eli Pancol, who found open field to the end zone. Georgia Tech fans booed following the penalty and again as teams left the field at halftime.
Duke: Murphy suffered his first loss after posting a 7-0 record, including two wins at Texas before his transfer. Murphy had too little help from the Blue Devils' running game. Star Thomas had 14 carries for only 48 yards. Georgia Tech outrushed Duke 245-74 and claimed a 412-279 advantage in total yards.
Georgia Tech: King's quick and mostly accurate passes were effective when paired with Haynes' strong runs. Jordan van den Berg had a third-down sack of Murphy late in the first half to take the Blue Devils out of field goal position and added another tackle for loss.
Duke: Hosts Florida State on Oct. 18.
Georgia Tech: Visits North Carolina on Oct. 12. The Tar Heels fell to 3-3 and 0-2 in the ACC with a 34-24 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Jamal Haynes (11) stiff arms Duke Blue Devils linebacker Cameron Bergeron (4) in the first quarter of a football game, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Zach Pyron (5) celebrates in the end zone after a rushing touchdown in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. (2) runs down the sidelines after a punt return in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver Malik Rutherford (8) runs the ball after a catch in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Duke Blue Devils quarterback Maalik Murphy (6) drops back to pass in the first quarter of a football game against the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Duke Blue Devils quarterback Maalik Murphy (6) drops back to pass in the first quarter of a football game against the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver Malik Rutherford (8) breaks a tackle in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. (2) stretches out for a pass in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Jamal Haynes (11) runs the ball in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Jamal Haynes (11) runs the ball in the first quarter of a football game against the Duke BlueDevils, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)
