The Texas Rangers’ playoff chase has been filled with both excitement and setbacks, but the latest update on one of their biggest stars has given fans renewed hope. Manager Bruce Bochy confirmed that shortstop Corey Seager will return this season, easing fears that his recent appendectomy might cut his year short.
Seager underwent the procedure last week, an unusual setback in a sport more accustomed to arm and leg injuries. While the timeline for his exact return hasn’t been set, Bochy’s reassurance means Texas can look forward to having one of their top bats back in the lineup as the postseason race tightens.
The Rangers entered the week riding a five-game winning streak, pulling within 2 ½ games of Seattle for the final wild card spot in the American League. Their offense has been explosive, highlighted by a 20-3 blowout of the Los Angeles Angels just before Seager’s surgery, and they currently hold the AL’s third-best run differential.
Still, injuries have piled up at a worrying pace. In addition to Seager, second baseman Marcus Semienwas sidelined after fouling a ball off his foot, while ace right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (11-3, 1.73 ERA) landed on the injured list with a strained rotator cuff. The absences have tested Texas’s depth, but Bochy’s confirmation of Seager’s return provides a much-needed spark.
Corey Seager
Statistically, the Rangers remain one of the most intriguing teams in the playoff picture. FanGraphs projects them with a 14.3% chance to reach the postseason, placing them in a tense mix with Houston (88.5%), Seattle (87.1%), and Kansas City (10.9%) — four American League squads battling for both the AL West crown and potential wild card spots.
With the best ERA in baseball, Bochy’s group has the tools to make a deep October run if healthy. And now, knowing that Corey Seager will be back before season’s end, the Rangers’ postseason hopes feel very much alive despite the bumps along the way.
