Why Did Corey Seager Turn Down A College Baseball Scholarship?
Corey Seager, shortstop for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB), made the unconventional choice to not attend college even though he was offered a scholarship. In this article, we delve into the factors that influenced Seager's decision and shed light on why he chose to bypass the opportunity to attend the University of South Carolina.
As the youngest of the Seager brothers, all of whom are professional baseball players, Corey Seager had a unique perspective on the game. He grew up witnessing the successes of his older brothers, Kyle and Justin, who had excelled in college baseball before entering the MLB.
Seager almost chose the college path. He was initially recruited to the University of North Carolina on a baseball scholarship by coach Chad Holbrook (who is now the current head baseball coach at the College of Charleston). Coach Holbrook had also recruited his older brother Kyle to the University of North Carolina. The Seager family already had a familiarity and positive rapport with Holbrook.
However, Seager ultimately opted to take a different path and explore his potential in professional baseball at an early stage of his career. He made the unconventional choice to forgo college and sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers directly out of high school.
The Los Angeles Dodgers picked Seager in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, and he made his debut in the majors in 2015. He went on to earn the title of 2016 National League (NL) Rookie of the Year and secured MLB All-Star honors in his first two seasons. In addition, he emerged as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the NL Championship Series and the World Series MVP, leading the Dodgers to clinch the 2020 World Series championship against the Tampa Bay Rays. Following a successful seven-year tenure with the Dodgers, Seager ventured into free agency and inked a lucrative ten-year contract worth $325 million with the Texas Rangers.
Seager admitted that he occasionally wondered if he was missing out on the college experience. However, he recognized that signing with the Dodgers and receiving a substantial signing bonus of $2.35 million right out of high school were opportunities he couldn't pass up. His decision was solidified by the belief that it was the right choice for his development and future in the sport.
Seager's choice to bypass college allowed him to enter professional baseball at a younger age, providing him with valuable experience and exposure to higher levels of competition. By joining the Dodgers organization straight out of high school, he was able to dedicate himself fully to honing his skills and adapting to the demands of the game.
His decision to skip college and sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers has undoubtedly paid off. His impressive achievements in the MLB, including being named the World Series MVP in 2020, demonstrate the wisdom behind his choice. By opting for an unconventional path, Seager was able to focus on his development as a player and has become one of the brightest stars in baseball. His story serves as a reminder that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to success in sports, and sometimes taking risks can lead to extraordinary outcomes.








