Corey Seager deviated from his spiritless script and added more spice to an already simmering Lone Star Series rivalry.
During the Texas Rangers’ World Series parade in Arlington, Corey Seager, known for his steady and unassuming demeanor, took a shot at the Houston Astros and their third baseman, Alex Bregman.
Corey Seager’s jab at the Houston Astros and Alex Bregman during the Texas Rangers’ World Series parade had historical context. Bregman had used the same line during the Astros’ clubhouse celebration when they clinched the American League West title, stating, “a lot of people were wondering what it was going to be like if the Stros didn’t win the division. I guess we’ll never know.”
Seager, now a two-time World Series MVP, delivered the line as a mic drop moment, referring to Bregman’s remarks that were initially made behind closed doors, filmed by the team’s videographers, and shared with the caption, “We celebrate titles in Houston.” The Astros had secured the division title only after the Rangers lost their regular-season finale against the Seattle Mariners.
Seager’s jab could be seen as a way to exorcise some lingering demons. During his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seager made the final out of the 2017 World Series against the Astros, who were later revealed to have electronically stolen signs during that season.
For the Rangers, Seager’s speech marked an apt conclusion to a season that reignited the intrastate rivalry and challenged the Astros’ dominance in Texas baseball. The Rangers won seven of the 13 regular-season meetings between the two teams and clinched victory in seven games during the AL Championship Series. simmering Lone Star
Throughout those 20 games, benches cleared twice during confrontations between the two teams, including an incident during Game 5 of the ALCS when Astros reliever Bryan Abreu hit Rangers slugger Adolis García with a 98.3 mph fastball in the shoulder. MLB suspended Abreu for two games, deeming that he intentionally threw at García, but allowed him to serve the suspension at the beginning of the 2024 season. García went on to hit three home runs in the two games following his hit-by-pitch and earned ALCS MVP honors.