Rangers put SS Corey Seager on IL with hip issue that could end his season

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Corey Seager was put on the 10-day injured list Wednesday because of right hip discomfort that could end the All-Star shortstop's third season with the Texas Rangers.

The move was made before the Rangers played their series finale against the New York Yankees. Seager didn't play Tuesday night after being the designated hitter in the series opener.

Seager also didn’t play in Friday's series opener against Oakland while dealing with the hip issue. Manager Bruce Bochy said Seager has felt soreness for about a month.

General manager Chris Young said the club didn't have the medical diagnosis to declare Seager's season over with 23 games remaining, but Bochy indicated as much.

“It’s good that we are taking care of it,” Bochy said. “Get this done so he can heal up over the winter and all set to go next spring.”

Young, Bochy and Seager said the decision to go on the IL was influenced by the reigning the World Series MVP missing almost all of spring training after surgery in January to repair a sports hernia.

While saying “I hope so,” when asked if he would play again this season, Seager said he had the offseason in mind with this move.

“You can’t miss two offseasons,” Seager said. “You’ve got to be healthy and get back into the work and get back into shape. Didn’t really have any buildup last year coming into the season. It’s something that you need to have.”

The Rangers have the same concern after their first World Series title helped lead to the late hernia surgery that keep Seager out most of spring training.

“The season went so long for a great reason,” Young said. “And then when Corey’s offseason training began, he felt the discomfort and we were at a point in the offseason where it was late, by no fault of anybody’s, just the nature of the timing.

“This year, if he’s dealing with something and we don’t know what that is yet, to diagnosis and understand what it is, and then prescribe a rehab program, whatever that may be, to make sure he has a normal offseason, is critically important.”

Texas entered the finale of the New York series 8 1/2 games out of the last AL wild card. Seager's absence will mean more time for Josh Smith at shortstop.

Texas promoted outfielder Sandro Fabian from Triple-A Round Rock to take Seager's spot. The Rangers made room for Fabian on the 40-man roster by moving right-hander Jon Gray (right foot) to the 60-day IL.

“I hate saying this, but it's one of the positives of where we are in the standings in September,” Young said. “With an expanded roster, we get a chance to look at some guys and evaluate and determine who can make an impact in 2025 and beyond.”

Seager is hitting .278 with 30 home runs and 74 RBIs in 123 games. He reached 30 homers for the third season in a row since signing his $325 million, 10-year contract with Texas as a free agent.

After his brief spring training, Seager had just two homers and eight RBIs his first 29 regular-season games. But the 30-year-old has hit .296 with 27 homers and 66 RBIs since May 3.

“As good as he is, you’ve got to be somewhat healthy to hit 30 home runs, especially when you look at his start,” Bochy said. “It was awful, and he’ll tell you that. For three months or so, he was healthy.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Texas Rangers' Jonah Heim runs the bases to score on a single from Corey Seager during the seventh inning of the first game of a baseball double header against the Chicago White Sox, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Texas Rangers' Corey Seager, right, celebrates with Josh Smith after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Texas Rangers' Corey Seager hits a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

CHICAGO (AP) — Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics started slowly, tussling early with the Chicago Bulls.

But the defending NBA champions came on and prevailed 123-98 on Saturday night, with Tatum's 43-point, 16-rebound and 10-assist effort earning the five-time All-Star comparisons to former Celtics great and Hall of Famer Larry Bird.

Tatum's third career triple-double was the first for a Celtics player that included 40 or more points since Bird scored 49 points with 14 rebounds and 12 assists against Portland in a 152-148 double-overtime win on March 15, 1992, according to the team.

Tatum emphasized winning is what matters most, but a little icing on the cake isn't bad.

“Larry Bird is probably the best player to ever wear this uniform," Tatum said. "So any time you accomplish something in the same sentence as him, it's something special, even if you never reach that pinnacle.”

Bird finished with 59 triple-doubles in his 13 seasons with Boston. According to the Celtics, Tatum's was the first for the team that included 40 or more points and 15 or more rebounds. Tatum's effort also counted as his sixth straight double-double and 14th this season.

Tatum got rolling in the second quarter, then scored 18 points in the third as Boston used a 19-8 run to open a 93-77 lead heading into the fourth. He finished 16 for 24 from the floor, hitting 9 of 15 3-point attempts. Two free throws rounded out his scoring line.

“As a basketball player, you feel the rhythm, the ball is finding you,” Tatum said. "You're just being active all over the place and probably in that third quarter.

“Joe (coach Mazzulla) just challenges me every night, just to amplify my teammates and figure out ways to dominate all over the court. Obviously tonight, I'm scoring a lot and getting rebounds. It just looks different on a given night.”

The game was tied at 42 midway through the second quarter, then the Celtics and Tatum found offensive rhythm. Boston had a 61-54 lead at the half using an 8-0 run to open a 12-point lead at one point. Tatum and the Celtics took charge in the third after the Bulls had closed to within five points.

“He went outside what we normally do and that's a testament to him,” Mazzulla said. “Just his shot-making, his decision-making, his ability to rebound. I thought he kind of controlled the entire game.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum shoots as Chicago Bulls' Nikola Vucevic watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)