:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67132149/usa_today_14637928.0.jpg)
Corey Seager hit a line drive home run in the second inning of the Dodgers’ win over the Astros, the only run allowed by rookie Cristian Javier in his first big league start. Javier struck out eight in his 5⅔ innings, allowing only two other batters to reach base.
For Seager, it continued a trend in the early going.
Seager has been tattooing the ball so far this season, and through six games has an average 96.4 mph exit velocity, in the top two percent of MLB. His home run against Valdez was 107.6 mph off the bat.
Fifteen of Seager’s 28 plate appearances this season have ended with him hitting the ball 95 mph or harder.
Seager’s stings
| Date | Opp | Pitcher | Exit velo (mph) | Expected BA | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opp | Pitcher | Exit velo (mph) | Expected BA | Result |
| Thu, Jul 23 | SF | Johnny Cueto | 104.0 | 0.590 | double |
| Thu, Jul 23 | SF | Tyler Rogers | 102.8 | 0.260 | fielder's choice |
| Fri, Jul 24 | SF | Tyler Anderson (L) | 99.7 | 0.250 | infield single |
| Fri, Jul 24 | SF | Kevin Gausman | 101.9 | 0.620 | double |
| Fri, Jul 24 | SF | Sam Coonrod | 95.1 | 0.410 | ground out |
| Sat, Jul 25 | SF | Logan Webb | 101.1 | 0.720 | lineout |
| Sat, Jul 25 | SF | Caleb Baragar | 102.2 | 0.820 | lineout |
| Sat, Jul 25 | SF | Tony Watson (L) | 109.2 | 0.700 | single |
| Sun, Jul 26 | SF | Drew Smyly (L) | 100.6 | 0.810 | lineout |
| Sun, Jul 26 | SF | Drew Smyly (L) | 97.2 | 0.310 | ground out |
| Sun, Jul 26 | SF | Rico Garcia | 100.2 | 0.450 | fly out |
| Tue, Jul 28 | Hou | Framber Valdéz (L) | 108.7 | 0.870 | single |
| Tue, Jul 28 | Hou | Andre Scrubb | 100.5 | 0.380 | single |
| Wed, Jul 29 | Hou | Cristian Javier | 107.6 | 0.980 | home run |
| Wed, Jul 29 | Hou | Cristian Javier | 105.8 | 0.880 | ground out |
Four times he’s hit into an out on a ball deemed by Baseball Savant to have an expected batting average of at least .700, including his fifth-inning ground out on Wednesday, at 105.8 mph off the bat.
That’s why, even though he’s hitting .320/.393/.520 with a .396 wOBA to date, his expected numbers per Baseball Savant include a .511 batting average, 1.030 slugging percentage and .645 wOBA, all tops in MLB.
We’re only six games in, of course, but that seems like a good sign.