Seager's 200th career homer puts him in a class by himself
Slugger becomes first left-handed-hitting SS to reach milestone as Rangers sweep White Sox
CHICAGO -- Corey Seager has long been established as one of the best shortstops in the Major Leagues. But on Thursday afternoon, he set a new precedent for greatness at the position.
Seager crushed his 200th career home run, a Statcast-projected 406-foot blast to right, in the Rangers’ 2-1 win over the White Sox that completed the three-game sweep at Guaranteed Rate Field. He became the first purely left-handed-hitting shortstop (excluding switch-hitters) in Major League history to hit 200 home runs and the 15th shortstop overall to do so.
The milestone accounts for those who played shortstop in at least 50 percent of their career games. Seager joined the Mets’ Francisco Lindor (242 career homers) and Rangers teammate Marcus Semien (233) as the only active players on the list.
Of course, Semien is now Seager’s double-play partner as Texas’ second baseman.
“We’re talking about one of the best hitters in the game,” manager Bruce Bochy said this week when asked of Seager’s looming milestone. “We’re talking about a very gifted player who can do some amazing things with the bat, especially on the slugging side, even the hitting side. … He’s got a lot more in there, too. Trust me.”
The home run also was Seager’s 11th this month and 30th this season. He has hit at least 30 home runs in each of his three seasons with the Rangers, including a career-high 33 in both 2022 and ‘23.
Seager’s homer was plenty of run support for Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi, who allowed just one hit and two walks in seven scoreless innings. He struck out 10 batters, tied for a season high (on July 24, also against the White Sox).