Corey Seager is 7-for-10 with three homers and seven RBIs in his last two games. (Noall Knighton)
Beginning your professional career, especially as a first-round Draft pick, can be a daunting endeavor. Fortunately for Corey Seager, he has a brother who was able to tell him just what to expect.
Selected 18th overall by the Dodgers in this year’s Draft, Seager won’t be the first in his family to reach the Majors. His brother, Kyle, debuted with Seattle last year and has spent all of this season with the Mariners.
After his last two games, the younger sibling is showing he’s on the same track.
The outburst came a day after he collected three hits, including a homer, and two RBIs.
The 18-year-old shortstop said he talks to his brother often, picking his brain for advice as he sets out on his own baseball career.
“I talk to him about everything, from [considering] college to the pros to everything else, just anything with life in general,” Seager said.
The brothers work together in the offseason, a time when Seager’s able to absorb even more.
“Every offseason, he comes back home, lives around us, we work together,” Seager said. “We hit, I’ve lifted with him some, started running with him.
“He told me pro ball was just a grind. You have to get in there every day and grind it out, don’t give anything away.”
Seager is starting to get the hang of that grind. After hitting .256 in July, he’s 7-for-17 with three homers and nine RBIs in five games. Overall, he’s got his average up to .283 with a .363 on-base percentage and .414 slugging percentage.
The North Carolina native said he was aware of the expectations that come with being a first-round pick.
“The beginning was all right, I was just trying to get used to everything. I think I’ve settled down a little more every day, hopefully got a little bit better every day,” he said. “I haven’t paid attention to [the expectations], just went out and played.”
On Sunday, teammate Jesus Valdez provided some more pop for the Raptors by going 3-for-4 with two homers and five RBIs. The 20-year-old first baseman is tied for third in the Pioneer League with 38 RBIs to go with a .324 average and five homers in 42 games.
“He smoked a couple balls today, smoked a few last night, too,” Seager said. “He’s really seeing the ball well, too.
“It’s a bunch of fun going out there every day and playing. It’s a little kid’s dream, I guess. No glitz and glamour, just fun.”
Second baseman Delvis Morales also had three hits and drove in three runs for the Raptors, who overcame the Rockies’ 10-run sixth.
Grand Junction’s David Dahl — drafted 10th overall in June — went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, fell a homer shy of the cycle and extended his hitting streak to 18 games.
Jonathan Raymond is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
