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Rather than fix Corey Seager's injury problem, are the Rangers ignoring it?

Seager's lack of production may have a very simple explanation that the Rangers are refusing to acknowledge
ByJeff Speicher|
Kansas City Royals v Texas Rangers
Kansas City Royals v Texas Rangers | Sam Hodde/GettyImages

Corey Seager is a bona fide superstar. He has proven over his 10-plus-year career that, when healthy, he is one of the most productive shortstops to have ever played the game.

Since his return from the injured list on May 28, he has been mired in a slump that has seen his numbers fall off a cliff, and there is probably a good, and all-too-obvious, reason why.

Corey Seager is hurt and it is robbing him of his power stroke through the zone

Take a look at Seager's statistics since he returned from a nagging hamstring injury. In 17 games, he is hitting .153 (9-59) without a home run and only two RBIs. The normally productive hitter that is slotted in the coveted three-hole in the lineup has exactly two extra-base hits (both doubles) since he returned.

Seager has never had this kind of a slump in his career, and fans have to be curious and asking the question: "Why now?"

The answer is right in front of us, and the Rangers are acting as if there is no issue. Corey Seager is still hurt, and it is affecting his hitting and has significantly contributed to the slugger's power outage.

It's not as if Seager has been ripping balls right at outfielders either. His exit velocity is down, and he has only hit one ball hard that short hopped the right field wall for a double on June 13 against the Chicago White Sox.

It's time to put Seager on the IL until he can contribute to the offense

Having a 70% Corey Seager is obviously not good enough. It's not fair to him, his teammates and fans.

It is time that Chris Young has a sit-down with Bruce Bochy and Seager to discuss a long-term stint on the IL so that he can be available to contribute to a possible second-half run.

Granted, with their best hitter sidelined, it will be a tough road to hoe to stay in the playoff hunt, but the organization is taking an unnecessary gamble with a franchise player who still has six and a half years left on a 10-year, $350 million deal.

The Rangers have way too much money invested in their World Series MVP to be this short-sighted with him and his health.