Don Mattingly Gives Corey Seager Start; Won’t Name Him Starter

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has stuck with Jimmy Rollins as his starting shortstop through a season in which Rollins hasn’t hit over .230 since the first couple of games.

While the Dodgers didn’t have a true shortstop to take over on the roster for much of the year, they did have top prospect Corey Seager in the minor leagues. Seager started the year in Double-A before being called up to Triple-A until he was promoted to the Dodgers on September 3.

Since his call to the Majors, Seager has shown exactly why he was considered one of the top prospects in all of baseball. He’s slashing .342/.435/.582 with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 22 games. He took advantage of Rollins’ finger injury and assumed the everyday shortstop role until Rollins returned last week.

In possibly the biggest series of the season against the San Francisco Giants, the 21-year-old Seager has been in the starting lineup at shortstop, despite Rollins being healthy. While Monday’s matchup against a right-hander was expected, the rookie starting against a tough left-hander is a bigger deal.

Before the game, Mattingly gave his reasoning on his decision to start the young infielder via Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times:

Mattingly: "I think Corey gives us the best chance to win today."

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) September 30, 2015

Some would believe that this makes Seager the team’s starting shortstop; however, Mattingly wouldn’t quite agree to that:

Mattingly also said yesterday that Seager gave #Dodgers best chance to win. Does that make Seager the starting SS? Mattingly wouldn't say.

— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) September 30, 2015

According to David Vassegh of AM 570, Mattingly talked to his veteran shortstop before putting out the lineup:

Don Mattingly talked to Rollins before posting lineup:"Out of respect to him, to his career…He's been a huge part of our ball club"

— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) September 30, 2015

Rollins was acquired in the offseason to bridge the gap to Seager for next season, but it appears that time may have come earlier than expected. The 36-year-old has brought a veteran presence to the team and can still prove valuable, mentoring Seager and the others.

For some that criticized Mattingly and the Dodgers for sticking with Rollins, it now appears that the tune has changed.