Rangers' Seager takes live BP for first time since back injury

Corey Seager took live batting practice Sunday for the first time since being sidelined by a back injury on July 1, 2026, according to ESPN's reporting. He finished the live batting practice session with a home run. Seager was planning to take live batting practice again Monday before a possible minor league rehab assignment, per ESPN.

Seager's return to live work comes after a season marked by repeated injuries. He was removed from a game at Toronto on June 30 in the first inning because of back discomfort, according to ESPN's reporting. Earlier in the season, Seager played two games in the minors in early June when returning from a three-week absence due to lower back inflammation. He then spent two more weeks on the injured list in June after getting a concussion. After returning from the concussion, Seager played in three games before his back flared up again on July 1.

Seager has been limited to 51 games in 2026, which ESPN describes as the worst season of his career. He is hitting .182 with 10 home runs and 25 RBIs, confirmed in official league data. He was in an 0-for-27 slide, the worst of his career, when he was sidelined by the back injury the first time, per ESPN's reporting. Seager is a five-time All-Star and two-time World Series MVP who joined the Rangers in 2022.

Manager Skip Schumaker acknowledged uncertainty about whether a minor league rehab stint would adequately prepare Seager for competition. "It's just tough to mimic some in-game stuff," Schumaker stated, according to ESPN. The decision is "always up to the player" but they will "discuss" it given how much time Seager has missed. Seager himself expressed doubt about managing a recurring back issue. When asked if he had a better handle on dealing with a balky back for a second time, he said, according to ESPN: "I would love to tell you yes, but backs are not what you want."

The source materials do not specify the timeline for Seager's return to active play, the underlying cause of the back injuries, or the long-term prognosis for the remainder of the 2026 season.