All-Star Shortstop Corey Seager Sidelined with Injury

• MLB

All-Star Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a sprained right thumb. The unfortunate injury occurred during Friday night's series opener against Seager's former team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

A Grim Diagnosis with a Silver Lining

After the initial discomfort, Seager underwent an MRI, which showed no structural damage to his thumb. Subsequent x-rays confirmed that the injury wasn't as severe as first feared. "They said probably a week or so with just inflammation in general," Seager explained.

He also added that his recovery would be largely dependent on his pain tolerance. Despite the soreness and swelling, Seager maintained an optimistic outlook, remarking, "It could have gotten a lot worse than it was."

The Rangers Soldier On

Seager's absence doesn't spell disaster for the Rangers.

During a previous stint without their star shortstop, the team managed to pull off an impressive 19-12 record. In the second season of his $325 million, 10-year deal with the Rangers, Seager's temporary absence offers an opportunity for the team to demonstrate their resilience once again.

Manager Bruce Bochy commended his team's determination. "That's a great message to the club that how well they played when he went down before," he stated. He further emphasized that they would need to replicate their resolve from the last time around.

"Like I've said many times, you've got no choice, so here we are," Bochy added.

Seager's Impressive Legacy

Seager’s notable accomplishments lend further gravity to his absence. As the MVP of both the 2020 World Series and NL Championship Series, his injury is a significant blow.

It was during these stellar performances that the Dodgers clinched victory at Globe Life Field in the neutral-site playoffs, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The Friday night series opener marked the first time the Dodgers played there since that memorable victory.