Seager, Duran Staying in Texas Rangers Lineup Together

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy has flipped Corey Seager and Ezequiel Duran between shortstop and DH since the former came back from injury.

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy vowed to keep Ezequiel Duran in the lineup with the return of Corey Seager.

And with good reason.

In the three games since Seager has come back, Duran has yet to sit. The two will be back in the starting lineup Sunday as the Rangers complete a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies at Globe Life Field.

AL West-leading Texas (28-17) goes for the sweep with Seager making his second start this week at designated hitter. Duran moves back to the shortstop position he’s primarily manned while Seager was out.

Seager made his first start since coming off the injured list at DH on Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves. He played short for the first two games against the Rockies, as Duran was the DH.

Getting a day off his feet for Seager is part of Bochy’s plan to reduce the stress on his star shortstop's body after the hamstring injury suffered last month. But the Rangers sure want Seager's bat out there.

Seager recorded a season high-tying three hits in Saturday's 11-5 win, including a two-run homer. His second-inning double registered a 113.3 mph exit velocity, the second-hardest batted ball by a Texas player in 2023. Seager has gone 4-for-11 with five RBI since being activated.

And he’s done that after getting just eight at-bats during a rehab assignment at Double-A Frisco and missing the first two games of the current homestand sick.

“It just shows you how good a hitter he is,” Bochy said.

All Duran did was drill a solo home run to left in the fifth Saturday. He has two homers in the last four games and three in the last five. Duran’s five homers in May are the second on the team, behind only the six by AL home run leader Adolis García. Seven of Duran’s last 12 hits have gone for extra bases.

Duran will be the primary replacement at shortstop when Seager needs a day off. Bochy has added that Duran will get starts in the outfield and around the infield, as well as DH. The Rangers have groomed him since Spring Training to fill the super-utility role and it’s working out as planned.

The Rangers are 3-2 on the homestand that wraps Sunday at 1:35 p.m. Andrew Heaney (2-3, 4.71) starts for Texas, with Connor Seabold (1-0, 5.14) going for Colorado.

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