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Corey Seager 2022 Player Outlook: Can Impressive Plate Skills Outweigh Health, New League Risks?
3 years agoThe Rangers? Really? Not many predicted a Corey Seager-Texas marriage this offseason, but the 27-year-old is set to spend the next decade manning shortstop in Arlington. Seager presents a high-risk, high-reward option for both the Rangers and fantasy managers going into 2022. It's hard to deny Seager's talents at the plate, as he's been nothing short of fantastic when on the field, posting a monster .306/.394/.521 triple slash in 2021. It's the on the field part that's been a struggle for Seager, as he's spent time on the IL in each of the last four seasons and appearing in just 95 games last season. In fairness, Seager's fractured hand was rotten luck from a HBP, but he's also dealt with chronic back issues and Tommy John surgery during the last four years, making it hard to expect 150 games from an ostensible franchise shortstop. Even so, it's hard not to be drawn in by the potential in this bat, as Seager ranked in the 90th percentile or higher in xBA, xSLG, xwOBA, hard hit rate, and max exit velocity in 2021. Seager looks like a true talent .300 hitter, something increasingly rare in modern baseball.
Health aside, managers must also factor in a move to a new team and a new league, which always carries risk regardless of the player. While the new Globe Life Field isn't quite the hitters' haven the old Rangers park was, Seager does get a slight ballpark boost compared to pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium. The biggest drawback of his new team is the quality of talent around him. While he and Marcus Semien present a fearsome threat at the top of the order, Texas's lineup leaves much to be desired outside of their $500 million dollar keystone combo. Even with these concerns, Seager's current NFBC ADP of 73 is a good value given the strength of his bat, especially considering the two other shortstops going around him, Javier Baez (pick 65) and Jazz Chisholm (pick 76) have larger flaws in their approach and are less bankable than Seager. If he's on the field, expect strong results from Corey Seager.
