An ‘unreal’ rise to big leagues for Dodgers’ Seager
LOS ANGELES — One year ago, Corey Seager was playing in the Arizona Fall League, following the Dodgers in the playoffs. He remembered “coming down to the dugout” to check on scores as the games were on television.
He won’t have to check the TV this time.
Though Dodgers manager Don Mattingly declined to formally announce his starters Thursday, he predicted “no surprises.” And Seager was the primary shortstop starter throughout September for the NL West champs and probably will continue to do so in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Mets Friday.
“It’s been kind of unreal,” said Seager, 21, the younger brother of Seattle’s Kyle Seager. “I started in Double-A and now you’re ready to play in the postseason. It’s a little strange but a lot of fun at the same time.”
Now Seager, who debuted Sept. 3, can watch Dodgers playoff baseball live. Could he fathom that
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Hitting t has is alway small 27-gam ger hit .337 four homer Defensively anyone for — or Jimm whose start he usurped. said Rollin been nothin supportive.
“He’s alw been there me,” Seag said. “The have been no awkward moments.”
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“He has to be a superstar at the major league level,” one opposing scout said. “He’s one of the best pure hitters to come out in a long time. It wouldn’t shock me if he had a huge playoff series if he just went off. This is a guy with a great feel to hit [with] power.”
Dodgers manager, Don Mattingly, has liked what he has seen — in all areas. Mattingly talked about seeing Seager’s growth the past few seasons.
“[Now] you see all the baseball stuff ’s easy,” Mattingly said. “You see it, he swings, stays in the strike zone, discipline, sees spin early, kind of the quietness of his hands, the clock is good, and then all the other stuff with that has been really good. As far as his demeanor around the locker room, relationships with teammates, you can see it’s good.
“How he carries himself as far as he’s really humble, but you can see the confidence. It’s not like he’s shy or quiet about anything. It’s a humbleness, but there is a confidence there with it So it’s kind of everything's there. It's some-thing that you don't see very often."