Two-time World Series MVP Corey Seager hopes to be ready for spring training with the Texas Rangers after undergoing his second hernia surgery in less than eight months.
“Just to be able to have a healthy offseason is nice,” Seager said on Friday, a week after his latest surgery. “Frustrated, obviously, that your season had to end early, but in general you know it probably was the right thing to do, and just to be able to look forward to next year.”
This recent surgery was to fix a right sports hernia, on the opposite side of his abdomen from the procedure on January 30. Seager missed most of spring training and didn’t play in his first exhibition game until March 23.
He was ready for the season opener on March 28, starting his third year of a $325 million, 10-year contract. The 30-year-old shortstop batted .278 with 30 home runs and 74 RBIs in 123 games before going on the injured list on September 4 due to right hip discomfort.
The recovery time is expected to be similar to what it was after the previous surgery.
“I’ll probably treat it similar, just to be able to do that in the offseason and start working out as soon as possible,” Seager said. “Yeah, if anything happens, I’m not really worried about it. You’ve got some extra time.”
Seager was managing the hernia issue during last postseason, using minor treatments in the trainer’s room. He had an impressive .318 batting average with six home runs, 12 RBIs, and 15 walks in 17 postseason games, helping the Rangers win their first World Series title.
Three of his postseason homers came in the World Series against Arizona, including a tying homer in the ninth inning of the first game. He was named World Series MVP, just as he was for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020.
The hope had been that the hernia issue would improve with extra rest over the offseason.
“I’m glad we got it done, so we will have them ready to go in spring training versus this past year,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. “He’s starting to move around a little bit better, but I’m walking faster than him still.”
