NL West-leading Dodgers calling up top prospect Corey Seager

ByMark Saxon ESPN logo
Thursday, September 3, 2015

SAN DIEGO -- The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up their top prospect, infielder Corey Seager, who will meet the team in San Diego in time for Friday night's game against the San Diego Padres, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.

Seager's North Carolina high school team tweeted Wednesday that the prized infielder would be called up to "the Show."

The move could be linked to the health of third baseman Justin Turner, who was struck in the left pinkie by a Mike Leake pitch in the sixth inning of the Dodgers' 2-1 win over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.

Turner stayed in the game and X-rays proved negative, but the Dodgers don't have a true backup third baseman. Utility man Enrique Hernandez is on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, and Chase Utley is playing second base while Howie Kendrick remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.

The 21-year-old Seager, who has primarily played shortstop, started 19 games at third base this season in case the Dodgers needed him to play that position.

He was ranked as the No. 5 prospect in baseball entering this season by ESPN MLB Insider Keith Law. The four players ranked ahead of Seager on that list -- Kris Bryant, Byron Buxton Carlos Correa, Addison Russell -- have already been called up to the majors.

Seager, the No. 18 pick in the 2012 draft, has batted .293 with 18 home runs and an .831 OPS in 124 games between Double-A and Triple-A this season. The 6-foot-4 left-handed hitting infielder was on a tear of late, going 11-for-35 with six extra-base hits in his last 10 games.

He is the younger brother of Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager.

The Dodgers, who have a 6 1/2-game lead in the National League West, have not confirmed Seager's promotion.