If you were fortunate enough to attend Tuesday night Quakes games, you saw a pretty exciting and well played game… until the 8th inning, that is.

After fighting their way back from a 4-2 deficit to tie the Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres), the proverbial bottom fell out for the Quakes, giving up 2 runs in the 8th inning and 7 in the 9th for a brutal 13-5 loss.

But to be quite honest, most of the 1,407 in attendance at the Epicenter (now called LoanMart Field) didn’t really care about the outcome of the game. Instead, their focus was on the Quakes new right-handed throwing / left-handed hitting shortstop, who had been promoted four days earlier from the Low Single-A Great Lakes Loons while the Quakes were on the road in Visalia. I am, of course, referring to the Dodgers 2012 first round draft pick Corey Seager.

Seager hit the ball very hard in each of his at bats on Tuesday night.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Seager, who has the distinction of being the youngest player in the California League at 19 years old, hit a sharp single to right in his first at bat on the very first pitch he saw. The Kannapolis, North Carolina native and brother of Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager ended his home debut going 1 for 4 with a line out to short, a fly ball to center, a walk and a come-backer with the bases loaded. But what is worthy of mention is that he hit the ball extremely hard in each of his at bats (except the walk, of course) and he appears to have a very good eye for the strike zone. The pitch that he hit for his single was low and in, yet Seager was able to turn on it and pull it into right field.

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On the other side of the ball, Seager showed excellent range and has a cannon for an arm. During Tuesday night’s game he managed to get to a ball hit up the middle, field it and made a strong throw to first to get the runner. He made several other excellent defensive plays and appears extremely comfortable at shortstop. He plays a deep short, often several steps onto the grass.

Seager showed excellent range in getting to this ball hit up the middle. He then gunned a strong throw to first to get the runner. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Corey makes a unique little bunny hop every time his pitcher makes a pitch, for which he will undoubtedly receive a little good-natured ribbing from his teammates.

‘The Seager Hop’
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

In his first three games with the Quakes Seager is 2 for 9 (.222), and though only 19 years old, he seems to be quite mature. He is also blessed with a beautiful left-handed swing reminiscent of J.D. Drew and Andre Ethier. His swing appears to be a little long but his hands are very quick through the zone.

At 19 years old it is highly unlikely that Seager will be called up to the big leagues anytime soon but it’s refreshing to know that the efforts of Logan White and De Jon Watson are beginning to pay off in the Dodger farm system, and Corey Seager is definitely part of those dividends.

Let the good times roll.