Dodger fans who were fortunate enough to see Sunday’s spring training game between the Dodgers and Brewers not only got a good look at the here and now with Brandon McCarthy making his first start of the spring, but they also got a good look at the future of their beloved team.

Even though McCarthy gave up a single and a double for one run in his first inning of work, he also struck out two in that same inning. He then retired the side in order in his second and final inning of work, exhibiting excellent movement on his fastball. He even snapped off a couple of curveballs that were just plain nasty.

“I got a better idea of what I need to work on and where I’m at with some things,” McCarthy told reporters after his outing. “That first inning you’re more nervous and scared to remember what to do. The second inning I got back into it and felt like I settled down and came away with some positives.”

Brandon McCarthy made a total of 26 pitches in his first spring training start on Sunday – 20 of them were strikes.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

But any more, it seems as though it’s the later innings that Dodger fans are waiting for at these spring training games – after the Dodger regulars have been replaced by guys named O’Koyea Dickson, Scott Schebler, Darnell Sweeney, Kyle Jensen… and, oh yeah, that Corey Seager kid. It seems like this is when these games really get good.

Although much of the buzz thus far this spring has been about 25-year-old minor league first baseman O’Koyea Dickson who is only 4 for 9 (.444) with two home runs, a double and three RBIs, the reality is that it is 20-year-old Corey Seager that most fans are hanging around to see – and with good cause. In the five games in which Seager has appeared thus far, he is 2 for 7 (.286) with a double and two RBIs. And even though he has struck out three times already this spring, he also leads the entire team with four walks. On the other side of the ball Seager has been flawless while making several dazzling plays at short.

Seager’s game-winning line-drive double on Sunday would have been a home run in many ballparks.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

Dodger fans who are seeing the Kannapolis, North Carolina native for the first time are no doubt very impressed by what they are seeing – especially his incredible defensive skills. But for those who have been following young Corey since he was drafted 18th overall by the Dodgers in the first round of the 2012 First Year Player Draft, they have had the pleasure of witnessing the growth and development of this future superstar.

Fans who have been following Corey Seager over the past three years are not surprised at how well he is doing this spring. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

For the casual Dodger fan, Seager’s exciting game-winning walk-off double on Sunday afternoon was… well… exciting. But for the fan with a well-trained eye, Seager’s ninth-inning at-bat was what you might expect from a well-seasoned veteran.

Facing former Dodger left-hander Brent Leach, Seager fell behind 2-2 in the count after chasing a curveball that he immediately realized he shouldn’t have swung at.

“I was mad at myself for swinging at that breaking ball,” Seager told SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo after the game. “After that I relaxed and was just looking for something I could hit and he threw me one.”

Sounds simple enough, right?

But the pitch that Leach threw Seager was a fastball up in the zone. In fact, it appeared to be out of the zone. But when you’re 6′-4″ – as is Seager – and if you are trying to miss up in the zone – as was Leach – you better miss way up in the zone. Seager, who has exceptionally quick hand – both on defense and offense – was able to get on top of the pitch and he hit a laser-shot line drive over the head of Brewers center fielder Logan Schafer. And although Schafer was able to get a glove on the ball while on the dead run, he was unable to make the catch, thus allowing Dodgers pinch-runner Jarek Cunningham to score easily from second base with the winning run.

The pitch that Seager hit for the game-winning walk-off double on Sunday afternoon was up in the zone and appeared to be a ball. (Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

Although the Dodgers are still a week or more away from making their first round of cuts, Dodger fans need to understand that at some point most of these minor leaguers are going to be sent down to minor league camp – including guys like Corey Seager, O’Koyea Dickson and Julio Urias. It’s not that they’re not good enough, Heaven knows they are. It’s just that as spring training progresses, the regulars – including the starting pitchers – are going to be stretched out longer and longer and the need for late-inning replacements will taper off.

But remain patient and diligent, Dodger fans – not only will Corey Seager continue to grow and develop, but there is a pretty good chance that we might see him at Dodger Stadium at some point during the 2015 season. And I, for one, can’t wait!