Corey Seager, who was named the MVP of the World Series, and Josh Jung, an All-Star third baseman, are expected to play for the Texas Rangers on opening day, Thursday.
Despite only playing in one Cactus League game each before the team left Arizona, both players took part in six more innings of an exhibition game against Boston on Monday night in their home ballpark. They didn’t manage any hits in this game but were planned to play an extra inning due to Seager being on deck when the fifth inning ended.
Manager Bruce Bochy mentioned that both Seager and Jung would also participate in the final exhibition game against the Red Sox on Tuesday afternoon. The Rangers’ regular season begins on Thursday night at home against the Chicago Cubs, and Bochy is hopeful that both players will be ready.
Seager had surgery for a left sports hernia repair on January 30, and Jung had a left calf issue. Seager played through the hernia problem during the team’s championship-winning postseason last fall.
Despite the injury, he performed well, hitting .318 with six home runs, 12 RBIs, and 15 walks in 17 postseason games. Jung, who was chosen eighth by the Rangers in the 2019 draft, had a promising rookie season in 2021 but faced setbacks due to injuries.
Bochy also mentioned that Michael Lorenzen, a newly acquired starter, would have another bullpen session on Tuesday and is still in contention for the opening-day roster. Lorenzen recently signed a one-year contract with the Rangers and has been working out on his while waiting to sign as a free agent.
