Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager, a two-time World Series MVP and perennial MVP candidate, is currently navigating one of the most significant offensive droughts of his storied career. As of mid-May 2026, Seager is mired in a career-worst 0-for-27 slump, a stretch that has left fans and analysts alike searching for answers as the Rangers look to defend their position in the American League West.
The hitting drought reached a fever pitch during a Wednesday night game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Despite the Rangers securing a thrilling 6-5 comeback victory, Seager went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. This performance extended his hitless streak to seven consecutive games, marking the longest such stretch of his twelve-year professional career.
Through the first 43 games of the 2026 season, Seager’s statistical profile is jarringly different from his career norms. His batting average has plummeted to .179, which ranks 167th out of 174 qualified Major League hitters. For a player who boasts a lifetime average of .285 over more than 4,500 at-bats, seeing his name near the bottom of the league leaders is a surreal sight for the Arlington faithful.
The slump isn’t just about a lack of hits; it’s the manner in which they are missing. Seager has struck out 11 times during this 0-for-27 span. Overall, he has 50 strikeouts in just 182 plate appearances, a rate of 27.5% that far exceeds his 19.6% mark from 2025 or the elite 16.4% he posted during his historic 2023 campaign. His “whiff rate”—the frequency with which he swings and misses—has jumped to over 35%, signaling a timing or mechanical issue that has persisted since Opening Day.
Despite the mounting pressure, Seager remains characteristically stoic. “You’re obviously still working on things and you’d like to see some better results, but you’re not getting them,” Seager told reporters following the Diamondbacks game.
Seager has built a reputation on a meticulous, almost robotic preparation process. He believes that the only way to exit a slump is to “swing your way out.” He has started 42 of the team’s first 43 games, insisting that he feels “completely fine” physically. For Seager, the solution isn’t found in a day off or a trip to the trainer’s room; it’s found in the batter’s box, pitch by pitch.
“It’s one of those things that you’re going to figure it out out there,” Seager said. “It’s always been my focus… you’re going to figure it out swinging. So right now, I want to keep going out there and trying to figure it out.”
First-year Rangers manager Skip Schumaker finds himself in a delicate position: how do you manage a slumping superstar without undermining his confidence? So far, Schumaker has opted for unwavering support.
“Corey still feels good to go,” Schumaker said. “I like him in the lineup. So I’m going to continue putting him there if his body feels good and his mind is right.”
However, Schumaker did hint that a scheduled day of rest is on the horizon, possibly coinciding with an upcoming road trip to Houston or a scheduled off-day later in the month. The Rangers recently utilized a similar “reset” tactic with first baseman Jake Burger, who sat for two games before returning to drive in four runs in the comeback win over Arizona. The hope is that a similar mental break might help Seager reset his internal clock.
Interestingly, Statcast data suggests that Seager’s season hasn’t been a total loss of talent. His “barrel percentage”—a metric that measures how often a hitter makes optimal contact—remains in the 93rd percentile of all MLB hitters. This means that when Seager does make contact, he is still hitting the ball as hard and at the same dangerous angles as he always has. Furthermore, his walk rate remains high, suggesting that his plate discipline hasn’t entirely evaporated; he is still being selective, but he is simply missing the pitches he usually punishes.
History is also on Seager’s side. In early 2025, he faced a similar sub-.200 start before exploding for a .467 average over a three-week stretch. As Schumaker noted, “Someone told me a long time ago… that when you are in a funk, it just means you’re going to get really, really hot.”
For the Texas Rangers, the hope is that the “heat” arrives sooner rather than later. While the team has managed to stay afloat during Seager’s struggle, their long-term postseason aspirations undoubtedly hinge on their $325 million shortstop returning to the MVP-caliber form the world has come to expect.
