WEST SACRAMENTO -- Bruce Bochy did the unthinkable on Tuesday night, majorly changing the lineup for the first time during his Rangers tenure.
It paid off too, as Texas collected season highs in extra-base hits (5), home runs (4), total bases (23) and runs scored (8). Unfortunately, that exact lineup won¡¯t be penciled in again for a while.
The Rangers announced on Wednesday afternoon that Corey Seager would be going on the injured list with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain sustained during the series-opening win over the A¡¯s on Tuesday night.
¡°I was hoping to keep this lineup for a while,¡± Bochy said postgame on Tuesday.
General manager Ross Fenstermaker said the Rangers expect it to be a relatively short stay on the injured list, but that the club will know more in the coming days.
It goes without saying the Rangers lineup is much better with Seager in it. The shortstop got off to a slow start during the first week of the 2025 season, but through 21 games he slashed .286/.345/.468, including a single on Tuesday.
The five-time All-Star missed 31 games in 2023 with a left hamstring strain. He also missed about a month in 2019, from June 13-July 10, with a left hamstring strain when he was with the Dodgers.
"The less time that he spends on the IL, the better for this team,¡± Fenstermaker said. ¡°I think we're pretty optimistic and pleased with what we have received so far on that front."
Utilityman Josh Smith will likely hold down the shortstop position for as long as necessary, though veteran shortstop Nick Ahmed was also added to the roster as extra infield help. Smith -- who came up through the Minors as a shortstop -- played his first career game in center field on Tuesday but has logged appearances at shortstop (90 games), second base (eight games), third base (152 games), first base (two games), left field (50 games), right field (one game) and designated hitter (28 games).
"The versatility that Josh provides is unbelievable,¡± Fenstermaker said. ¡°You know what he's doing offensively, but the ability to play different positions seemingly every day and fill in where needed is great. Obviously he did a great job of that last year, winning the Silver Slugger as a utility player. It's a nice weapon to have on the club. He¡¯s a winning baseball player for Boch to deploy however we need.¡±