Grace period is over for Corey Seager, it's time for the Rangers star to lock back in

Since arriving in Texas in 2022, Corey Seager has been the saving grace the Rangers have needed and he's answered every single call. From being a stalwart veteran presence to the postseason hero, Seager has been there.

It's afforded him various luxuries and freed him from harsh criticism. It's the reason he's escaped with minimal negativity when he gets injured or goes on a slump at the plate because truth of the matter, that hasn't happened often.

This season is a bit different though. The Rangers have missed the postseason two straight seasons, they parted ways with three of Seager's former World Series teammates and he's now the de-facto leader on the team. That's why his struggles and quite frankly his approach, now deserve some critique.

Seager's act is getting tiring as on-field success dwindles

The 32-year-old shortstop has always been a quiet, set in his ways type of player. He's not one to overly show emotion or get involved in the mob after a walk-off and that's fine. Some don't like the attention and just want to play ball.

He's also a proven hitter. Perhaps one of the best hitting shortstops of his generation. Therefore, he's afforded benefits like not taking on-field batting practice or his swing happy approaches at the plate.

But when it's not working for him, like it isn't right now, hitting .189 with a .671 OPS 40 games into the season. Those approaches that were getting overlooked, suddenly bubble to the service. Take his nonchalant personality and shove it aside, look at his nearly 48 percent first-pitch swing rate or his 35 percent chase rate, which is bottom five in the league. An approach that has worked over his 12 year career, clearly isn't working right now.

Not to say he's not actively working to turn it around because I am pretty confident he's doing just that and agonizing over why it's not working. However, to a fan at the stadium or viewer on TV, the approach isn't changing one bit.

He's still swinging first-pitch almost half of the time, he's getting himself into 0-2 holes, striking out at a 35 percent clip and rolling over into 4-6-3 double plays late in games.

Rest is needed for Seager

The Rangers have been lucky to avoid an IL stint from Seager to kick off the season. He's played in 41 of the Rangers 42 games to start the season. But he's also currently in the middle of perhaps the worst stretch of his career, he might as well not even be in the lineup.

Having gone hitless in last six games, 0-for-21, Skip Schumaker said Seager would get days off soon but it's yet to happen. With Texas set to wrap up a three-game set against Arizona on Wednesday, get a day off Thursday and begin a weekend series against Houston, it's hard to see when Seager will get the time off.

Every metric is off track for Seager this season with an increase in his whiff rate, strikeout rate, chase rate and even his bat speed is slightly less than average league-wide.

I understand Schumaker wants and needs Seager in the lineup against their division and in-state rivals this weekend. We might see him in the first two games but wouldn't be surprised if he got off his feet a bit more.

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