Corey Seager wasn't initially expected to join the Los Angeles Dodgers in the beginning of September. The MLB's top prospect was going to remain in Triple-A for the playoffs, but a couple of injuries opened the door for an opportunity in the major leagues.
Seager was the subject of rumors days before the MLB rosters expanded to 40 players on Sept. 1. Many were wondering if he'd join the Dodgers and get some reps at shortstop considering veteran Jimmy Rollins is still batting just .220/.279/.355 in 130 games.
Well, Seager is hitting .360/.429/.520 with four doubles, four RBIs and a stolen base in seven games since joining the Dodgers, and although it's a small sample size, he's already viewed in a positive manner in regards to his capabilities on the field and in the clubhouse.
"Seager, who draws copious praise for his elegant left-handed swing and his rare combination of size and agility, is also widely lauded for his gracious demeanor," writes Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com. "In fact, it is Seager's personality that has made him one of the game's most touted young players as much as his tool set, though in reality it's the confluence of the two."
Rollins is still considered day-to-day with a sore knuckle, but he's expected to return tonight against the Arizona Diamondbacks. What does that mean for Seager?
"Word is, the Dodgers plan to keep Corey Seager around," writes Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. "The idea that he was only coming up for a few days was likely only a nice way to set expectations low for the player generally considered baseball's top prospect."
But does "keeping him around" mean throughout the postseason?
"That's where the debate is going to come in," ESPN baseball analyst Jonah Keri said. "Right now Jimmy Rollins is hurt so they don't have to deal with that. When he comes back, Rollins is a veteran and he's been there all season. He hasn't been very good this season, but then you have this thing about trusting the rookie to go in and be the guy hitting in the playoffs. That's not an easy question to answer."
The Dodgers have had a lot of trouble scoring runs in the past couple of months, which contributed to their big drop among the MLB's leaders. Los Angeles ranks 20th in runs scored and finished 23rd in the month of July and 28th in August.
If Seager continues to produce offensively and can buckle down on the defensive side of the ball, the Dodgers and manager Don Mattingly will have a pressing issue on their hands, especially if Jimmy Rollins continues putting up underachieving numbers.
