The Texas Rangers have announced that shortstop Corey Seager will undergo surgery to repair a sports hernia on his right side and will be out for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Seager has not played since September 2 after being placed on the 10-day injured list with right hip discomfort and will now sit out the rest of the season as he recovers from his second sports hernia surgery in the last year, per MLB.com.
The average recovery time for a sports hernia is between six and 12 weeks and Rangers general manager Chris Young said Seager would be available for spring training next season if there are no complications in his recovery.
Seager struggled to begin this season after missing the offseason with a sports hernia on his left side, resulting in the shortstop batting just .208 with only six RBIs and two home runs in April.
The 2024 All-Star has brought those numbers up significantly over the rest of the season, as he has now finished the year batting .278 with an on-base percentage of .353 and a slugging percentage of .512.
Seager has also managed to lead the Rangers with 30 home runs this season while also collecting 74 RBIs and 132 hits in 123 total appearances this season.
Young said the franchise never wants to see a player injured but having Seager undergo surgery now is the best option for both sides moving forward.
“Obviously a tough decision, but with where we are at this point in the season, felt like it was a prudent decision in order for him to make a full recovery, have a strong offseason, and be ready for spring training,” he said, as reported by MLB.com.
“Obviously I feel for Corey, but he’s had a tremendous year, been a great leader in the clubhouse and on the field for us. His performance has been amazing, and we’re looking forward to getting him back healthy next year,” he said.
Seager spoke about his decision to have the surgery and agreed with Young’s comments, noting that his inability to prepare during last offseason had an impact on his decision.
“You can’t miss two offseasons,” he explained, per the Associated Press.
“You’ve got to be healthy and get back into the work and get back into shape. Didn’t really have any buildup last year coming into the season. It’s something that you need to have,” he said.
This surgery comes amid a tough season for the defending World Series Champions as the Rangers now sit 7.5 games behind the Houston Astros for first place in the American League West division with only 15 games remaining.
