Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

Corey Seager Lands on IL: What’s Next for the Rangers Without Their Star Shortstop?

Corey Seager is back on the injured list with another hamstring strain.

Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

For a brief moment, the Texas Rangers looked whole. After a month of juggling injuries and piecing together a patchwork lineup, Sunday marked the return of a full-strength offense. Tuesday night? It all unraveled in one sixth-inning sprint.

Corey Seager was pulled from the game after what looks to be a tightness in his right hamstring…

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— Rangers Nation ⚾️ (@rangers__nation) April 23, 2025

Corey Seager, the heart of the Rangers’ lineup and 2023 World Series MVP, pulled up running to first base against the Athletics. By Wednesday, the news was official: a Grade 1 right hamstring strain and a spot on the 10-day injured list. It’s a frustratingly familiar storyline. Seager missed 31 games last season with a hamstring injury, same issue, other leg. He also lost significant time to a left hamstring strain back in 2019 while with the Dodgers. This time, though, the Rangers are optimistic it’s the mildest of his hamstring setbacks.

Before the injury, Seager had played in 21 of the team’s first 23 games, slashing .286 with four home runs and six RBIs. Since April 8, he leads the club with 17 hits. His absence, no matter how short, hits hard, especially for a Texas lineup still trying to find its offensive rhythm.

The Numbers Without Corey Seager Aren’t Pretty

Since the start of 2023, the Rangers are just 44-40 without Corey Seager in the lineup. And while early-season numbers can be misleading, Texas has found itself in the bottom third of the league in batting average, runs, walk rate, and OPS heading into Wednesday night.

To fill the roster spot, Texas called up 35-year-old infielder Nick Ahmed and designated left-hander Walter Pennington for assignment. Ahmed, a veteran of 11 major league seasons, has worn more jerseys this year than most rookies do in five. After stints with Arizona, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, he’s now looking to make it 12 straight MLB seasons with an appearance. He slotted in at shortstop and batted ninth on Wednesday. But the everyday job goes to Josh Smith.

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Rangers manager Bruce Bochy confirmed the Silver Slugger-winning utility man will handle shortstop duties while Seager recovers. Ahmed’s role will be more of a plug-and-play veteran who can give Smith breathers or fill in late. According to assistant GM Ross Fenstermaker, the Rangers opted for Ahmed over younger 40-man options precisely because of his experience: “Veteran experience” was the deciding factor. For a Rangers team who failed to defend their 2023 crown, Seager’s health has always been the variable. When he’s in the lineup, they’re dangerous. When he’s not, the margin for error tightens.

Texas Rangers will hope that this is a short stint on the IL for Corey Seager.

Corey Seager

Rangers

Mohsin Baldiwala

mlb

Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.