Rangers injury updates: Cody Freeman, Corey Seager, Wyatt Langford, and more

The Texas Rangers are in the middle of a nine-game road trip against the three worst teams in baseball. Fans may be expecting the team to roll over the bottom-feeders but they're also dealing with mounting injuries that have greatly affected the offense's ability to push runs across the plate.

Stalwarts who were in the opening day lineup and expected to be big contributors are currently out with a variety of injuries and illnesses.

Let's check in on these Rangers and see how they are recovering, and when they can be expected back in Arlington.

Rangers injury updates on Corey Seager, Wyatt Langford, Josh Smith and Cody Freeman

Corey Seager has missed the first five games of the road trip against the Astros, Rockies, and Angels with what is being called back spasms. He underwent an inconclusive MRI, but he has been placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 15th, with lower back inflammation. Michael Helman has been called up from Round Rock to fill the spot.

Seager was in the midst of a career-worst slump where his batting average had cratered to a lowly .179 and an un-Seager-like slugging percentage of just .353. Hopefully, the back is a big part of his issues at the plate, and a quick IL stint will be just what the doctor ordered for the all-star shortstop.

Wyatt Langford last played a game on April 21 after being hampered by a right forearm flexor strain that was re-aggravated during his rehab stint. He is still at least two weeks away from returning to the Rangers lineup, assuming all goes well.

After the setback in his first at-bat in Arizona, the organization is going to be extra cautious with their cornerstone outfielder to make sure that when he does return, it will be for the rest of the season.

The second base position has been hit hard

Josh Smith is dealing with a nasty case of viral meningitis that has landed the second baseman and utility man in the hospital for at least a week to 10 days. The illness is not considered serious, but it has hit Smith hard and it will take time to regain his strength.

It's unfortunate because Smith looked to be breaking out of a season-long slump with several base knocks before going on the IL with a right glute strain on May 4 and this week being diagnosed with the illness. Look for him to be back by the end of May.

Cody Freeman, who was expected to push Smith for the everyday second base job out of spring training, has missed the entire season as he recovers from a lower-back stress fracture. Freeman began rehab with the Rangers' Arizona Complex League affiliate last Thursday and the team expects him to rejoin the active roster sometime in June.

Right now, Ezequiel Duran is filling in nicely at second base. Though Freeman will likely be back with the major league squad at some point, Duran's consistent offensive production has made Freeman's role a little bit murkier moving forward.

If the Rangers can get through May close to .500, reinforcements are on the way and should boost the anemic offense in the second half of the season.

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