ARLINGTON — A star-studded week may await for the farm system.
Rangers shortstop Corey Seager is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment this week, manager Skip Schumaker said, as he nears his return from lower back inflammation.
Seager has not undergone a minor league rehab assignment in nearly three years despite five trips to the injured list since, but because of the nature of his injury and what physical tests he needs to pass, real in-game situations are required. He’ll likely start his assignment Tuesday or Wednesday at Double-A Frisco because they are home this week.
“There’s little things that are tough to mimic here,” Schumaker said. “Tag plays, you’re reaching for the backhands, first to thirds. You’re doing it right now [in simulated sessions], but it’s not real, so as much as we can maybe get a couple of those underneath us. The running and the fielding are what [he needs to do]. Hitting, he’s ready right now, but it’s the other stuff.”
Schumaker said that left fielder Wyatt Langford “felt good” after his first minor league rehab game at Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday afternoon. He finished 0 for 2 with two walks at designated hitter, is expected to play outfield Sunday and could join Seager in Frisco this week as he works his way back from a right forearm strain. Schumaker did not commit to a big league return date for either of the club’s two most important hitters.
“We’ll see how the progression goes,” Schumaker said, “but they’re both trending the right way.”