UPDATE: The Texas Rangers have officially confirmed that shortstop Corey Seager and second baseman Marcus Semien will not return to the field this week, effectively ending their 2023 season. Manager Bruce Bochy stated, “They’re done. They’re pretty much shut down,” prior to the Rangers’ final home series against the Minnesota Twins on September 26, 2023.
Both players have been sidelined since late August, with Semien out since August 22 due to a broken bone and sprained ligament in his left foot. Seager underwent an appendectomy shortly after, marking a disappointing conclusion to their fourth season together. The Rangers, now out of playoff contention, had hoped for a late-season return from both stars.
In a twist of fate, Jacob deGrom is set to make his last scheduled start on September 27 against the Twins. The two-time Cy Young Award winner, boasting a record of 12-8 and an ERA of 3.01, will reach 30 starts this season after missing much of the past two years recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Despite Seager and Semien’s injuries, deGrom’s return is a silver lining for the Rangers. He has thrown 167.2 innings this year, a significant improvement compared to his previous seasons where he managed only 35 starts and 197.1 innings combined over the past four years.
Bochy expressed the desire of both Seager and Semien to play again, especially after the Rangers surged with a 13-3 record late in the season. However, a devastating seven-game losing streak dashed their postseason hopes. “It’s not worth the risk,” Bochy said regarding Seager’s potential return. “He’s not quite ready. Same with Marcus.”
Seager wraps up the season with a batting average of .271, hitting 21 home runs and driving in 50 RBIs over just 102 games. Meanwhile, Semien finishes with 127 games played, his lowest total since 2017, registering a batting average of .230 with 15 homers and 62 RBIs.
As the Rangers close out their season, fans are left to reflect on the impact of injuries to their star players. With deGrom’s final start on the horizon, all eyes will be on the ace as he looks to cap off the year on a high note. Stay tuned for updates as the Rangers navigate the offseason and prepare for the future.
