The Texas Rangers’ 2025 season has been a wild ride — and now, in the most unexpected twist yet, the team’s franchise cornerstone has been sidelined by something nobody saw coming: his appendix.
On Thursday, Corey Seager, the Rangers’ five-time All-Star shortstop, underwent an emergency appendectomy in Mansfield, Texas, after leaving Wednesday’s blowout 20–3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels with abdominal pain. Ironically, he had already crushed a two-run homer earlier that same game, a reminder of the offensive firepower the Rangers now have to replace. The surgery, performed by Dr. Garish Alexander, was deemed successful, but Seager has been placed on the 10-day injured list, throwing yet another wrench into the Rangers’ injury-riddled campaign.
Seager’s Reluctance to Shut the Door on 2025
What makes this situation compelling is Seager’s determination not to rule out a return. Rangers president of baseball operations, Chris Young, confirmed that Seager has no plans to give up on this season, hinting that the shortstop might be able to make it back in as little as two to three weeks. That would be an astonishingly fast recovery — not unheard of, but rare in professional sports. Some athletes, like Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Brandon Lowe, have returned in similar timelines, while others took longer to regain full strength.
For Seager, this is just the latest chapter in what has been a season of resilience. He’s slashed .271 with 21 home runs and 50 RBIs in 102 games despite fighting through nagging injuries ranging from calf issues to hamstring soreness. Considering his track record — a 2023 World Series MVP who has proven he thrives under pressure — betting against his return might be unwise.
The Domino Effect: Roster Shuffling and New Opportunities
The Rangers wasted no time adjusting their roster. In Seager’s absence, the team called up veteran Dylan Moore from Triple-A Round Rock. Moore, recently released by the Seattle Mariners, brings versatility, having played nearly every position at the Major League level. Though his bat (.193 average, nine homers, 19 RBIs in 88 games with Seattle this year) hasn’t been impressive, his glove and experience give Texas a stabilizing presence during this uncertain stretch.
To make room for Moore on the 40-man roster, Texas transferred promising outfielder Evan Carter — recovering from a broken wrist — to the 60-day IL. That move underscores the grim reality of 2025 for the Rangers: depth has been tested at every level. With Carter, Nathan Eovaldi, and others shelved, the team has been forced to rely on replacement players to keep their playoff hopes alive.
For now, Ezequiel Durán will shoulder most of the responsibility at shortstop, while Moore slides into the lineup at first base. Durán, known for his bat speed and versatility, will get a high-stakes opportunity to prove he can carry the load defensively in Seager’s absence.
A Season of Strange Misfortunes
Seager’s appendix is almost symbolic of the Rangers’ 2025 campaign — unexpected, disruptive, and a little bizarre. Injuries have been the recurring theme all season, to the point where fans and beat writers alike have described the club’s luck as “cursed.”
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Evan Carter: broken wrist, out indefinitely.
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Nathan Eovaldi: rotator cuff injury, likely done for the year.
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Marcus Semien: has battled through nagging injuries of his own.
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And now, Corey Seager — sidelined by an organ most people barely think about until it fails.
It’s gotten so unusual that Rangers blogs jokingly compared the string of setbacks to a “pets’ heads are falling off” moment from the movie Dumb and Dumber.
The Bigger Picture: Can the Rangers Survive Without Their Star?
As of now, Texas sits around the .500 mark (68–67) and remains within striking distance of a Wild Card spot, just 4½ games out. The team has been heating up at the right time, winning five of its last six, and Globe Life Field has started to buzz with cautious optimism.
But losing Seager, even temporarily, strips the Rangers of one of their most reliable offensive weapons and clubhouse leaders. Since joining Texas in 2022, Seager has not only provided elite defense at shortstop but also elevated the Rangers’ offense, pairing with Marcus Semien to form one of the most feared middle infields in baseball.
If the Rangers hope to hang around in the playoff chase, the formula is simple but daunting: Durán must rise, Semien must steady the infield, and Adolis García must keep providing power in the middle of the order. The pitching staff, already stretched thin, will need to deliver consistency in the absence of offensive cushion.
Seager’s Legacy and the Mental Edge
For Seager personally, this setback comes in a season where he’s continued to build his reputation as one of MLB’s best postseason performers. A 2020 World Series MVP with the Dodgers and a 2023 World Series MVP with Texas, Seager has become synonymous with October heroics. That’s what makes his insistence on not ruling out the season so tantalizing — he knows the Rangers’ path to contention depends on his bat being in the lineup when the games matter most.
And while appendicitis is no torn ligament or broken bone, the timing of the recovery will determine whether the Rangers’ playoff push has any shot at success.
The Bottom Line
Corey Seager’s appendix might have temporarily sidelined the Rangers’ superstar, but the fight isn’t over — not for him, and not for Texas. With Seager’s competitive spirit hinting at a rapid return, the Rangers now face a pivotal stretch where depth players must carry the load.
If they can keep the ship afloat, and Seager returns in time for a September push, the Rangers could still write a dramatic late-season comeback story. But if the losses pile up without him, his appendix may go down as the cruelest plot twist in a season already defined by bad luck.
Either way, one thing is certain: the Rangers’ playoff hopes now hinge not just on bats and arms — but on how quickly one superstar can bounce back from surgery most people only worry about once in their lives.
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