Rangers slugger Seager thriving in post-shift MLB world

PHOENIX — Analytics say that Corey Seager was one of many hitters most harm by infield shifts final season.

Now that the defensive tactic has been restricted, the Texas Rangers slugger is having an enormous spring coaching.

The 28-year-old had eight hits in his first 18 spring coaching at-bats, together with three homers and eight RBIs. Teams shifted Seager in about 93% of his plate appearances final season and he completed with a career-low .243 batting common.

Seager signed a $325 million, 10-year in December 2021, however his first yr with the Rangers was disappointing. He completed with a profession excessive 33 homers, however Texas misplaced 94 video games regardless of including Seager and Marcus Semien.

Here are some extra gamers having a superb spring coaching:

Gerrit Cole, Yankees, RHP: The five-time All-Star seems to be like he’s able to have one other nice season, throwing 6 1/3 scoreless innings over his first two begins. He’s struck out 11, walked none and allowed simply three hits. The 32-year-old wa 13-8 and three.50 ERA whereas main the key leagues with 257 strikeouts.

Jordan Walker, Cardinals, OF: The 20-year-old prospect is making a push to be on the crew’s opening day roster after 12 hits in his first 28 at-bats. He additionally has three homers, three doubles and a stolen base. Walker’s still-growing 6-foot-5, 220-pound body have some evaluating him to a younger Aaron Judge. He hit .306 with 19 homers final season in Double-A.

Max Fried, Braves, LHP: The 29-year-old has pitched 5 scoreless innings and struck out 9 over two begins. He’s been a mainstay within the crew’s rotation over the previous 4 seasons with a 52-20 report.

Trey Mancini, Cubs, 1B: The 30-year-old has made a superb first impression with the Cubs, with 9 hits in his first 16 spring at-bats. Mancini was one in all Baltimore’s finest gamers for a number of seasons earlier than getting traded to Astros final yr and he helped Houston win a World Series title. He signed a $14 million, two-year deal throughout the offseason.

Julio Urías, Dodgers, LHP: Still simply 26 years previous, he’s given up only one run over 6 2/3 innings in two begins. He led the National League with a 2.16 ERA final season and completed third within the NL Cy Young Award voting.

Matt Olson, Braves, 1B: The slugger is in mid-season kind with eight hits in his first 15 at-bats, together with three homers. Olson had the unenviable activity of taking up at first base after franchise icon Freddie Freeman left for the Dodgers in free company, however responded with a stable season in 2022, ending with 34 homers and 103 RBIs.

Alec Bohm, Phillies, 3B: The 26-year-old has flashed some energy with three homers in his first 21 at-bats. He’s hit simply 24 homers in his first 1,126 large league at-bats, however at 6-foot-5 and 218 kilos, it’s honest to anticipate extra homers as he will get older.

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