LOS ANGELES — Corey Seager returned to Dodger Stadium in a big way, as he smacked a go-ahead three-run homer that reminded Los Angeles Dodgers fans what they’d been missing.
The Texas Rangers’ 3-2 win on Wednesday night was Seager’s first regular-season game at Dodger Stadium since leaving as a free agent in 2021 and signing a 10-year, $325 million contract with the Rangers.
The homer was his 60th at Dodger Stadium, sixth among active players. The 422-foot shot in the fifth inning from Walker Buehler clocked in at 111 mph, his hardest hit homer of the season. He’s also tied for the longest hit this year. He’s gone deep 14 times so far.
Fans gave Seager a standing ovation after the Dodgers played a video of his career highlights with them in Tuesday’s series opener, when the 30-year-old shortstop missed his fourth straight game with a hamstring issue.
Seager was in the lineup Wednesday as the designated hitter and went 1-for-3 with a strikeout. He will likely serve in the same role in the series finale on Thursday.
“It’s good to have Corey back. We’ve seen what he means to us,” Rangers coach Bruce Bochy said. “We missed him.”
The Rangers held on for the victory on Wednesday when Dodgers rookie outfielder Andy Buggs ran through a stoplight and was thrown to the plate in the final out.
Seager was the 2016 National League Rookie of the Year and 2020 NL and World Series MVP with the Dodgers, then left as a free agent after the 2021 season.
The crowd of 48,930 welcomed him the first time but booed when he came up again after the homer.
“It kind of comes with the territory, I get that,” Seager said. “I don’t blame them.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
“Beer enthusiast. Subtly charming alcohol junkie. Wannabe internet buff. Typical pop culture lover.”
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