The lowdown on FA 3B Kyle Seager
Brian Murphy
@Spokes_MurphyAlthough the Mariners lost their regular-season finale on Oct. 3, their fans sent Kyle Seager out like a winner. When Seattle's longtime third baseman was pulled from the game in the ninth inning, he received an extended ovation which brought him to tears. It was a recognition of everything Seager accomplished during his 11 years in a Mariners uniform as well as the likelihood that he would not be returning for his age-34 season. Now that Seattle has declined his 2022 club option, Seager is a free agent and likely to play next season for a different franchise for the first time in his career.
Here's what you need to know about Seager:
FAST FACTS
Birthdate: Nov. 3, 1987 (Age 34 in 2022)
Primary position: 3B
Height/weight: 6-foot, 216 pounds
Bats/throws: Left/right
Place of birth: Charlotte, N.C.
School(s): Northwest Cabarrus (N.C.) HS; University of North Carolina
Drafted: Third round, 2009, by Mariners
MLB debut: July 7, 2011
Qualifying offer: Did not receive one
STAT TO KNOW
Seager powered up in 2021, setting career highs with 35 home runs, a 12.3% barrel rate and a 111 mph maximum exit velocity.
QUESTION MARK
Will he stick with his '21 plate approach? Seager was never more aggressive in the batter's box than he was this past season. He swung at pitches inside and outside of the zone at the highest rates of his career. This swing-happy tactic played a role in his lofty homer total, but it also contributed to the worst strikeout rate (24.0%) and whiff rate (29.6%) Seager has recorded. Ultimately, he was a league-average offensive player in 2021, as evidenced by his 100 OPS+ and 99 wRC+
Seattle's best
Seager's 11 seasons in Seattle have placed him alongside the franchise's most legendary players in myriad statistical categories. He ranks among the top five in runs, hits, extra-base hits and home runs. His 37.0 WAR among Mariners position players trails only Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, Ichiro Suzuki and Alex Rodriguez.
Home for October
The Mariners finished the 2021 season at 90-72. Although it was their highest win total since 2003, they finished two games out of a Wild Card spot, which is as close as Seager has ever come to getting into the playoffs. His 1,480 games played are the most by any active player who has yet to advance to the postseason. Among all Major Leaguers who debuted since 2000, only retired outfielder Adam Dunn played in more regular-season games (2,001) without a playoff appearance.
"Corey's Brother"
Kyle Seager has put together a solid career in the Majors. He's an All-Star. He has won a Gold Glove. He has received MVP votes. By any measure, he is an extremely talented baseball player. But within his own family, Kyle knows he isn't the best. He told MLB Network Radio in 2017 that he realized his youngest brother and fellow free agent Corey was better than him when Corey was still in high school.
Kyle understood his place in the Seager family baseball hierarchy so clearly that he put the nickname "Corey's Brother" across the nameplate of his jersey during Player's Weekend in 2017.
Leading by example
"Corey's Brother" isn't Kyle's only nickname. His teammates also know him as "Cap." Seattle's de facto captain has been a consistent force since becoming an everyday player in 2012 and has played in at least 154 games in eight seasons thus far. Among active players, only Albert Pujols, Robinson Canó and Miguel Cabrera have finished more seasons with as many games played.
Off the field, Seager has made a huge impact in Seattle and around the state of Washington with his numerous philanthropic efforts. He has funded pediatric cancer research, made many visits to children's hospitals, raised awareness and assistance for victims of domestic violence and helped grant multiple wishes from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In 2021, Seager was recognized for all of his contributions when he was named the Mariners' nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award.