Dodgers’ Corey Seager Named Top Shortstop Prospect by MLB

Earlier today, MLB announced their top shortstop prospects and to no surprise Corey Seager took the top spot.

MLB released their top 10 shortstop prospect list today and the Dodgers’ very own Corey Seager was ranked number one. The 21 year old was drafted in the first round, 18th overall in the 2012 draft. Since then the expectations for Corey Seager have been high from everyone in the organization.

Being the younger brother of Kyle Seager, the third baseman for the Seattle Mariners, Corey Seager already knew what the journey ahead was going to look like. Just one year after Corey Seager was drafted, his older brother Justin Seager, was drafted by the Seattle Mariners and currently plays for the organization on their High A team. Baseball runs in the Seager bloodline.

At every level Corey Seager has stepped up to the plate and impressed everyone. Drafting a guy right out of high school at just the age of 18 can be questionable, but with Seager’s ability, humility and maturity the Dodgers knew they had the right guy.

At every level Seager put up great numbers and continued to adjust his approach at the plate with every promotion. With the Great Lake Loons in 2013 Seager hit .309 in 74 games and earned a promotion to High A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes out in California. He played 27 games for the team that season and hit only .160. However, after playing fall ball in the Arizona Fall League and some time off during the winter, Seager came back with a much better approach at the plate starting the 2014 season.

Starting with the Quakes in 2014, Seager hit .352 with 18 home runs in just 80 games. He also showed improvement on his fielding ability and again earned himself a promotion to Double A in Chattanooga, Tennessee. With the Chattanooga Lookouts, Seager played in 38 games and hit .345 to close out the 2014 season. Again following the season Corey Seager joined the Glendale Desert Dogs for the Arizona Fall League.

Coming into the 2015 season, the 21-year-old played 20 games with the Lookouts before being promoted to Triple A in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At Triple A, he played in 105 and batted .278. It may have appeared that Seager was finally slowing down a little at the plate, but really he was just adjusting to the new way of pitching at Triple A. The Dodgers knew he was ready come September for yet another challenge, this time with the big league club.

Corey Seager made his major league debut at Petco Park as the Dodgers faced the Padres on September 3, 2015. He played in 27 games with the big league club and hit .337 with 4 homeruns and an OPS of .986.

In his minor league career, Seager was named an All-Star at High A, Double A and Triple A levels. He also was picked to play in the Futures Game two years in a row along side players like Joey Gallo and Kris Bryant. Yesterday, Joey Gallo headlined the list of top 3B prospects and Kris Bryant won the Rookie of the Year award for his sensational season with the Cubs. Needless to say, Corey Seager is in good company. In 2014, he was even named the Most Valuable Player with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. Also in 2014, he led the Minors in batting average (.349) and doubles(50).

MLB Pipeline’s list also features well known prospects like J.P. Crawford who is in the Phillies organization and Dansby Swanson who was the first round pick in the 2015 draft last year. Trea Turner who was a September call up for the Washington Nationals also was featured on the list for the fifth spot. With prospects like these guys, the shortstop position is going to be one to watch for seasons to come.

Time and time again Seager has risen to the challenge. The craziest part about it all is at just 21 years of age, Corey Seager is only going to get better. With more time up with the Dodgers, he is only going to get more comfortable and really settle into his approach at the plate. The Dodgers nicknamed him “The Future”, now “The Future” is here and the Dodgers have a great shortstop who will be in their starting lineup opening day this April. Dodger fans have a lot to look forward to from number 5 on the field!