27 Straight Hitless At-Bats? Corey Seager's Comeback Is Way More Complicated.

Hold up, baseball fans, because some big names are back on the field, but it ain't all sunshine and homers. The Texas Rangers just activated two major bats, Corey Seager and Wyatt Langford, from the injured list. You'd think this would be a massive shot in the arm for their lineup, right? Well, for Seager, it's a bit more of a head-scratcher. This dude is a two-time World Series MVP, but his stats right now? They're sounding alarm bells louder than a rogue foghorn in Elliott Bay.

Is This the Seager We Know and Fear?

Look, we all know Corey Seager. The guy who was 2023 World Series MVP when the Rangers took down the Diamondbacks in five games, and the MVP for the Dodgers back in 2020. He was runner-up for regular season MVP in 2023, losing only to Shohei Ohtani. He's a five-time All-Star, a certified superstar at 32 years old, and someone you absolutely dread seeing step up to the plate. But here's the real talk: he's been on the 10-day IL with lower back inflammation, last playing May 13. And since he's been in the lineup this season, he's batting a measly .179. Worse yet, the dude is hitless in a career-worst 27 consecutive at-bats. Yeah, you read that right: *twenty-seven*. He does have 7 homers and 20 RBIs in 42 games, which shows the power is still there, but that average and hitless streak? That's not the Corey Seager the league is used to. He's expected in the lineup against the Guardians tonight, so we'll see if the rust is finally off.

Wyatt Langford's Return: A Glimmer of Hope?

Joining Seager is 24-year-old outfielder Wyatt Langford, activated from his own 10-day IL stint. Langford's been out since April 21 with a forearm flexor strain. His season numbers aren't exactly setting the world on fire either, batting .238 with one homer and four RBIs in 20 games. However, last year, this kid showed some serious pop, crushing 22 home runs, driving in 62, and swiping 22 bags in 134 games. That's the player they're hoping to get back. He just wrapped up a rehab assignment at Round Rock where he went 2-for-10 with a homer, two RBIs, and five walks in four minor league games. That's a little spark, right?

Moves on the Margins

While the big names return, the Rangers also shuffled some other pieces. Outfielder Alejandro Osuna, 23, who had nine RBIs and a .253 average in 37 games, got optioned to Triple-A Round Rock. Utility man Cody Freeman, 25, who only had one game with a 1-for-2 showing, also got sent down. The most notable name cut was Sam Haggerty, 32, designated for assignment after batting .159 with one RBI in 35 games. He was even activated from the bereavement list just to get DFA'd. Yikes. They also signed right-hander Josh Sborz, 32, to a minor league deal; he posted a 13-12 record with a 4.86 ERA across 143 appearances for Texas from 2021-24. So, Seager and Langford are back, but it's not a simple "plug and play" situation. Everyone will be watching to see if Seager can shake off that historic slump and if Langford can find the power and speed we saw from him last year. This is what makes early season baseball so wild, you know? Every game matters, every at-bat is a chance to turn things around. Get ready.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.