The Texas Rangers are prioritizing long-term health over immediate roster needs as they manage the injury recoveries of outfielder Wyatt Langford and shortstop Corey Seager. Arlington is about 13 miles east of Fort Worth. The team currently leads the American League West, but President of Baseball Operations Chris Young emphasized that skipping steps in rehabilitation for either player could jeopardize their availability for the stretch run.
Langford has been ruled out until after the All-Star break due to a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. This marks his second stint on the injured list this season. He previously missed more than a month with a right forearm strain sustained in April. Since returning in June, Langford has shown significant offensive improvement, batting .359/.406/.703 with six home runs and 15 runs batted in during his last 15 games. Young noted that Langford is making progress as expected, though no specific return date has been set.
Seager is dealing with lower back inflammation, which has placed him on the injured list twice this year. He was initially sidelined from May 18 to June 4 for the same issue, then missed two weeks in June due to mild concussion symptoms. The shortstop is undergoing additional testing to determine the extent of the current back issue. Young described Friday as a positive day for Seager but stated that further evaluation is needed before any timeline can be established.
Seager’s overall performance this season has been below his career standards. In 51 games, he is batting .182/.292/.374 with 10 home runs and 25 runs batted in. The Rangers removed him from a game in the first inning of his most recent outing due to the back problem, opting for a cautious approach to his ramp-up.
