Corey Seager is World Series MVP
by Rowan Kavner
Two years ago, Corey Seager could only watch the Dodgers’ World Series run as he recovered from hip and elbow surgeries. Now, he is their World Series MVP.
Seager, who was also the Dodgers’ National League Championship Series MVP, finished the postseason with the team lead in hits (22), runs (20), home runs (eight) and RBI (20). He was also their OPS leader (1.171), posting a .328/.425/.746 playoff slash line.
He recorded hits against 18 different pitchers, knocked in runs against 14 different pitchers and homered against eight different pitchers during the playoff run.
In the World Series, Seager hit .400 with two homers, seven runs, five RBI and more walks (six) than strikeouts (four). He was not just part of their victory this time around but a vital reason they’re now champions.
“To be able to win, to be able to do it with a team like this, it means everything,” Seager said. “Obviously going through the injuries and everything like that, missing out on a World Series chance, it hurt. But to be able to come back and get back in the same place with a team that’s been there, and this core’s been around for a couple years, and to know what it feels like to lose and to be able to rebuild and come back and stay focused and to be able to finish it, it’s special.”
The top of the Dodger lineup with Mookie Betts and Seager electrified and catalyzed the most powerful lineup in baseball throughout the year. Seager knocked in Betts five times during the playoffs. It was no different as the Dodgers finished off the final game of the World Series.
After Betts doubled in the sixth inning and got to third on a wild pitch, a ground ball to first base from Seager was enough to get Betts home for the go-ahead run in a 3–1 victory.
“He plays shortstop well, swings the bat well, runs the bases well, does everything right,” Betts said. “It wasn’t just the postseason. He did it all year. He was huge for us all year.
Seager’s postseason success was a continuation of one of his best Major League seasons.
He was constantly among the league’s leaders in quality of contact this year, ranking second among qualified Major League hitters in barrels per plate appearance, hard-hit balls and barreled balls while posting a career-best .585 slugging percentage. He led the Dodgers with 65 hits, 12 doubles and 41 RBI during the regular season, and his .307 batting average was tied with Justin Turner for the team lead.
Two years removed from two season-ending surgeries, the 2016 Rookie of the Year looked like a superstar again.
“He was just steady the whole time, constantly getting two, three, four hits,” Betts said. “That’s huge in a lineup like ours. Everything he did was amazing. He deserves everything that came his way and is coming his way.”
