The Texas Rangers’ Corey Seager will swing for the fences in his return to Dodger Stadium next week, accepting the eighth and final spot in Monday’s Home Run Derby.
Earlier Thursday, Seager was named as an injury replacement on the American League All-Star team for the Toronto Blue Jays’ George Springer.
Multiple reports Thursday said Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani was offered a spot in the Derby field, but he declined. Ohtani was named an All-Star as a designated hitter and a pitcher for the second consecutive year.
Seager, who left the Dodgers to sign a 10-year, $325-million contract with the Rangers this past offseason, has hit 59 of his 125 career home runs at Dodger Stadium. He played his first seven seasons with the Dodgers and was an All-Star twice, also participating in the 2016 Home Run Derby when he was eliminated in the first round.
Named the No. 3 seed for the event, Seager will join two-time defending champion Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves, Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals, Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies, Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals, Julio Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners and Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Guardians.
The reigning AL Player of the Week, Seager is batting .245 with 21 homers and 48 RBIs over 84 games this season heading into play on Thursday.
–Field Level Media