ATLANTA — Corey Seager knew as soon as the ball left his bat. As the ball soared 418 feet into the right field crowd, he didn’t even look up.

As “The Natural” blasted over the Globe Life Field speakers, Seager—who is typically the most unflappable of baseball players—opted to look toward the Rangers’ dugout, yelling to his teammates before whirling his bat and racing around the bases.

Game 2 of the World Series, sponsored by Capital One: Tonight, Game 1 of the World Series, a 6-5 walk-off triumph over the D-backs on Friday night was made possible by Seager’s game-tying two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning and the emotion that followed. Tonight, 8 ET/7 CT on FOX (pregame 7 ET).

Adolis’ game-winning home run in the eleventh inning caps off the thrilling Game 1 victory for the Texas Rangers. Oct. 28, 2023 · 1:52: First Game
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Seager’s heroics were crucial for the Rangers to win, but Adolis García’s walk-off solo home run in the 11th inning dealt the last blow. It was the first such instance since Kansas City’s Alex Gordon in 2015 and only the sixth time in World Series history that a game-tying home run occurred in the bottom of the ninth inning.

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As third baseman Josh Jung put it, “It’s like the script is written for him” regarding Seager.

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28 October 2023 · 3:44
All of Seager’s first-game HR calls
“The at-bats he puts together in the big spots in the big situations, night in and night out, are truly incredible,” stated Jung. “I told him not to pitch him a strike because something amazing was going to happen when he was approaching that position in the ninth inning. And there he goes—first pitch, he happens to notice. There are no adequate words to express how much he means to our club, to us, or how wonderful he has been to us. You’re just relieved that he looks good on you.

The talk of the clubhouse this month has been “Postseason Corey Seager,” one of the greatest World Series starts in MLB history. When October rolls around, he becomes even more confined. Even before this postseason, his resume makes that much clear.

With his game-tying home run, Seager
0:40 Oct. 28, 2023
With his game-tying home run, Seager
Seager, the 2020 World Series MVP, has only increased his already impressive list of achievements this season. He moved his 2023 postseason slash line to after going 1-for-4 with two walks on the evening: 484, 673, and 327.

After Carlos Correa (18) and Derek Jeter (20), he currently has the third-most playoff home runs of any shortstop in MLB history, with 17 in his career. With 14 walks thus far in the postseason, Seager and Ian Kinsler share the record for the most walks by a Rangers player in one postseason. Just 16 players had at least 40 postseason walks throughout their careers, including him.

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The HR center field view of Seager
0:39 Oct. 28, 2023
The HR center field view of Seager
As for now, it’s really surreal, said Evan Carter, a rookie outfielder. People like him exist, Doli; everyone pulls through in crucial situations like that. It is precisely what you require—someone in your vicinity who possesses the experience and resilience to support you through such situations. And it’s just been—my goodness, you exude complete confidence.”

At 418 feet, Corey Seager’s HR
0:51 Oct. 28, 2023
At 418 feet, Corey Seager’s HR

Donnie Ecker, the offensive coordinator and bench coach for the Rangers, compared Seager to an android created especially for the game of baseball. He takes an uncompromising and inflexible stance. Every time, he uses the exact same swing technique. That consistency is reflected in his external emotions and facial expressions, or lack thereof.

The ’23 World Series’ first rule is that no lead is secure.
However, the Rangers’ franchise shortstop, “Postseason Corey Seager,” has displayed emotion in a way that many have never seen.

View from Seager’s homer’s field
0:29 Oct. 28, 2023
View from Seager’s homer’s field
With a solo home run in the first inning of Game 7 of the American League Championship Series against the Astros, Seager gave the Rangers a lead they would never give up. It generated the same amount of fervor and fire.

However, the one in World Series Game 1 was larger.

The Wild wrap up a callback to Rangers General Managers Jeter and Freese.
Infoviz: The home run by Corey Seager
0:30 Oct. 28, 2023
Infoviz: The home run by Corey Seager
Naturally, I just felt excited, Seager remarked. Fun is had. It’s the postseason. This is essentially the main idea. Thus, it was undoubtedly a cool moment.

Manager Bruce Bochy continued, “That same emotion was evident in Houston as well.” “He might have increased the intensity [tonight].”There, down two in the ninth, it’s difficult to smash a bigger home run than what he did. There, he saved us. It was evident to him. He did a fantastic job energizing everyone.

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Bochy on winning Game 1 with such flair
2023-10-28 · 1:28
Bochy on winning Game 1 with such flair
Without a doubt, Seager remains true to himself. Following the victory, he was more eager to talk about his colleagues than about himself, especially García.

That feeling that was displayed on the field persisted.

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Jonah Heim, the catcher, stated, “I laughed because I didn’t know what to do” following that home run in Houston. The coolest thing ever was that. We make jokes about how emotionless he usually is. “I’ll show some emotion when we make it to the World Series,” he declared.

He has arrived there. He has carried it out.