Considering how Spring Training has gone on the injury front for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the club was extremely fortunate Corey Seager suffered only a left knee sprain on March 11. The 21-year-old shortstop underwent an MRI the following day, and was projected to miss one to two weeks.
That timetable put Seager’s availability for Opening Day — April 4 — in doubt. However, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts remained optimistic Seager would return in time for the season opener.
After some time of inactivity, the promising shortstop returned to the field on Sunday for conditioning drills. Seager has responded well to ramping up his workouts in the days since, and on Thursday, received at-bats in a Single-A game on a backfield at Camelback Ranch.
Courtesy of J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News Group, is video of Seager’s two at-bats:
Assuming Seager continues to progress without issue in his recovery, he remains on track to be in the Dodgers’ lineup against the San Diego Padres to begin the 2016 season.
Seager batted .337/.425/.561 with four home runs, eight doubles, 17 RBIs, a .421 wOBA and 175 wRC+ in 27 regular-season games with the Dodgers in 2015. He then became the youngest position player to start a postseason game in franchise history.