The Texas Rangers are still waiting. Two of their most important players from that 2023 World Series run aren’t on the field yet, but the latest updates on Corey Seager and Jordan Montgomery at least give fans something to track. And honestly, after a season full of injury reports that keep dragging on, any real progress feels worth noting.
Seager landed on the 7-day injured list on June 15, retroactive to June 12, with a concussion that also came with rib and jaw soreness. That’s a nasty combo, especially for a guy whose swing is his whole identity. He hasn’t played since. But on June 23 in Miami, he stepped into the batter’s box for live batting practice. Not a simulated game. Not cage work. Actual live pitching. He also took ground balls, sat in the dugout for a while, then went back out for more defensive work. That’s meaningful.
Still, before anyone starts penciling Seager into the lineup, there’s a long list of boxes he still has to clear. Concussions are tricky. They don’t follow a script. The Rangers know that and they’re not rushing it. But seeing him back in baseball activity — even if it’s just BP and grounders — gives the clubhouse a real lift. You can feel it in the way the team talks about him.
Seager’s numbers this year aren’t pretty: .186/.284/.373 with nine homers and 24 RBI. That’s not the guy who won World Series MVP twice. But nobody in Arlington is hitting the panic button. The track record speaks for itself.
In less encouraging injury news, the Rangers also announced that right-hander Jack Leiter had surgery Wednesday for an ankle issue and will be out for a while. Not ruled out for the season, but there’s no timetable yet. That’s a tough break for a young arm trying to find his footing in the big leagues.
Montgomery’s Rehab Start Went About as Well as Possible
Jordan Montgomery’s update might be just as important for where this team goes in the second half. He opened the season on the 60-day IL after undergoing left UCL surgery, and the initial timeline pointed to an early August return. On June 21, he started a rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco and threw one scoreless inning, allowing just one hit.
It was only an inning. But for a pitcher coming back from elbow surgery, that first clean outing matters more than the stat line suggests. The Rangers will slowly build him up, and if Montgomery can get back to anything close to the pitcher he was down the stretch last year, the rotation suddenly looks a lot deeper.
The Rangers sit in a weird spot right now. They’re not out of it, but they’re not in control either. If Seager clears his concussion protocol and Montgomery keeps building arm strength, this team could look completely different by August. And that’s the part worth watching. No grand conclusion here. Just two guys trying to get healthy, and a team hoping the second half gives them a chance to make some noise.
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