Mariners’ Kyle Seager, brother Corey two of MLB’s hottest hitters
Jun 4, 2016, 4:23 PM
Kyle Seager’s been on fire for over a month, turning the page since April 30 to raise his average a whopping 140 points to .299 entering Saturday’s game against the Rangers. But the Mariners third baseman isn’t the only member of his family striking fear into the hearts of big league pitchers at the moment.
Corey Seager, Kyle’s 22-year-old shortstop brother, hit three home runs into the Hollywood night on Friday, becoming the first Dodgers rookie since 1959 to smack three homers in one game.
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Kyle has a pretty good case to win American League Player of the Week on Monday, hitting a ridiculous .586 with two homers, 12 RBIs and an .862 slugging percentage over a current seven-game hitting streak. Corey could very well accompany him as the National League’s winner of the same award, hitting .393 with a .929 slugging percentage and five homers (tied for most in the MLB) over the same time period.
Even if they don’t win the weekly awards together, they might see each other at the midsummer classic. With 10 homers, 39 RBIs and an OPS of .905, Kyle is making a play for his second AL All-Star team, and Corey (.283 average, 12 homers, 31 RBIs, .849 OPS) is in the conversation to make the NL team in his first full season in the majors.
Though it’s hard to stay in touch during the busy MLB season, Kyle said he’s been keeping tabs on his little brother.
“I know we’ve both been hitting alright,” he told 710 ESPN Seattle’s Shannon Drayer on Saturday in typical understated fashion. “He’s pretty special. He can do some things that I certainly can’t.”
That was on display Friday night, when one of Corey’s homers went out to left field off Braves southpaw reliever Hunter Cervenka.
“He took a lefty oppo yesterday and I’ve never done that, so that seems like something that’s a pretty good idea to do,” said Kyle, who like his younger brother hits from the left side of the plate. “… I’m hoping he can teach me a few things.”
By the way, there was yet another Seager with a big game on Friday. Middle brother Justin Seager, a 24-year-old first baseman in the Mariners farm system, smacked a homer for Class-A Advanced Bakersfield.
“I was the only one who didn’t hit a homer yesterday. I blew it,” Kyle quipped.
The Mariners probably could have used one in their 7-3 loss to Texas, but it’s doubtful they were disappointed with Kyle’s 2-for-4, one-RBI performance. The eldest Seager has been like a rock for the Mariners this season, starting all but two games at third base, one of which he served as the designated hitter. Seattle manager Scott Servais said earlier in the week he hopes to get him another day at DH, but with Kyle swinging the bat the way he is, it doesn’t appear a full day off is in the cards any time soon.
