Corey Seager sprained his left knee rounding first base in the Dodgers’ 8-4 loss to the Angels on Friday night. (Getty Images)
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Dodgers avoided a nightmare scenario when an MRI on rookie shortstop Corey Seager‘s left knee revealed only a mild strain. Seager cannot participate in baseball activities for 1-2 weeks.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Seager suffered the injury rounding first base in Friday’s game against the Angels. Seager exited the game after three innings.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the 21-year-old shortstop doesn’t have a history of knee problems and his MRI revealed no tears.
“He felt some soreness, we checked it out,” Friedman said. “He’s still sore but after checking it out we’re confident it’s not something that’s going to linger long-term. As soon as he’s asymptomatic we’re going to ramp up activities.”
Seager is the consensus number-1 prospect in baseball, and the clear number one on a relatively thin Dodgers depth chart at shortstop.
Kiké Hernandez is a capable backup, but he’s also a candidate to see time at second base, third base and the outfield as needed. Veteran utilityman Charlie Culberson was signed to a minor-league contract with a non-roster invitation to camp. He’s performed well so far, batting .467 (7 for 15) with a home run and seven RBIs through his first eight games. He’s also made some spectacular plays in the field at shortstop.
But neither Hernandez nor Culberson is the Dodgers’ first choice to start at shortstop on Opening Day on April 4. That’s little more than three weeks away, and if Seager can’t take part in baseball activities for two weeks, “that’s pushing it,” Roberts admitted.
“That’s not ideal, obviously,” Roberts said. “With the opportunities to get at-bats on the other (minor league) side, you can log a lot of at-bats in a week. Obviously you still have to get your body back in playing shape, so that’s more of a thought.”
Roberts could not rule out the possibility that Seager would begin the season on the 15-day disabled list.
“Right now I’m still gathering information so I’m not going to say,” he said.
