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The Dodgers called up their farm system's top prospect, 21-year-old Corey Seager, and will start him at shortstop tonight in San Diego. By most of the media ratings, Seager was the top prospect remaining in the minor leagues. He's been playing at Oklahoma City and having a decent but not exceptional season, but he is a 6-foot-4 specimen who can hit and play shortstop — that type will always get the benefit of every doubt. Apparently, manager Don Mattingly plans to use him to give a rest to his older infielders Jimmy Rollins (tonight) and Justin Turner (tomorrow.) Seager hits left-handed and will wear uniform number 5.
Seager's brother, Kyle, is the starting third baseman for the Seattle Mariners. Corey got the call from his manager this morning about 1 o'clock, then heard from Kyle. Their parents caught the first flight out of North Carolina and will be in San Diego for Corey's major league debut. Corey met the media this afternoon and said he didn't get much sleep after the phone call. He said Kyle's advice was to show up 15 minutes earlier than he normally would to soak up the major league environment.
At the stadium in San Diego, Seager met his Dodgers teammates, sat in the dugout for a scrum with reporters and took batting practice. The Dodgers have been waiting for this guy to get to The Show and so have all the prospect watchers around baseball. He's supposed to be that good — maybe not this season, but eventually.
Last night in Kansas City, a kid named Scott Alexander got in a game for the Royals and became (per Baseball Reference.com) the 18,612th player to play in major league baseball. Seager would be next.
Corey Seager in the clubhouse prior to #DodgersBP. pic.twitter.com/SKmGLgBEgG
— Jon SooHoo (@JonSooHooPics) September 3, 2015Corey Seager, welcome to The Show. pic.twitter.com/AcxuM87qg9
— MLB (@MLB) September 4, 2015#DodgersBP pic.twitter.com/mORro1iYB9
— Jon SooHoo (@JonSooHooPics) September 4, 2015