Seager’s HR Derby homecoming ends in 1st round

LOS ANGELES — It was a homecoming of sorts for Rangers shortstop Corey Seager, as the former Dodgers slugger was received warmly by the crowd at Dodger Stadium on Monday night for the T-Mobile Home Run Derby.

Seager, who played with the Dodgers from 2015-21 before signing a 10-year, $325 million deal to join the Rangers last offseason, hit 24 homers in the first round, but he was eliminated by Seattle rookie Julio Rodríguez. Rodríguez wowed the crowd with 32 blasts.

Seager hit 10 homers before taking his timeout with 1:32 left in the round. He had 20 homers after regulation but received a minute of bonus time, as he hit two shots more than 440 feet. Seager hit four more homers during his bonus round.

Seager’s longest homer went 451 feet to right-center field and his hardest-hit homer was 106 mph off the bat, per Statcast. His 24 home runs went a combined 1.9 miles, but notably all of them went to left or left-center field.

Seager, the 2020 NLCS and World Series MVP with the Dodgers, is having another impressive season in his first year with the Rangers. He’s hit 22 homers in 88 games with Texas this season.

It was the second career Home Run Derby for Seager, who also participated in the 2016 edition at Petco Park. He hit 15 homers in the first round that year, but lost to Mark Trumbo, who hit 16.

Seager had his father, Jeff, pitch to him in this year’s Home Run Derby after also doing so in 2016. Seager said having the opportunity to do that again was a major reason why he did the Derby this year.