Before returning from injury in the middle of this season, Kyle Seager had been trending in the wrong direction since signing a seven-year, $100 million contract with the Mariners.
Last year was the worst of his career. The third baseman batted .221 and posted a career-low .273 on-base percentage.
SIGN UP for a FREE trial of DAZN and watch LIVE baseball games and programming on MLB Network
On Tuesday, though, Seager's resurgent 2019 continued with a three-home run game against the Tigers. His third blast got some help from opposing outfielders Niko Goodrum and Brandon Dixon, whose collision sent the ball flying over the fence.
MORE: Chirinos, DeShields risk substantial injury with defensive plays
The #Tigers have seen better days 🤦♂️
— ChangeUp on DAZN (@changeupondazn) August 14, 2019
Kyle Seager has not 🤗
This fly ball to the warning track turns into his 3️⃣rd HR of the game, a new career-high 🎖
(📽: @Mariners)pic.twitter.com/TG01FjmtPt
The six-RBI performance moved Seager up to 14 home runs and 34 RBIs in 64 games. He's now batting .237 but has returned his on-base percentage to above .300.
Seager probably won't hit a more fortunate homer again in his career — it's not often outfielders assist long balls — but his larger body of work lately can provide confidence for himself and his organization.
While the $38 million still owed to him by Seattle remains a burden for the franchise, it at least appears the 31-year-old could provide some slightly above average production through 2021. And with most other clubhouse veterans already shipped away to support a rebuild, Seager will be around to mentor a new crop of players.