George Springer: The Rebirth of a Star in Toronto
In the most complicated moments, when it seemed his career had headed north without return, George Springer refused to lose his essence. After challenging seasons, where his fearsome game diminished, Springer rejected the idea that numbers defined him. Clinging to the belief that greatness still resided within him, he understood that any resurgence demanded being true to himself. Therefore, every day, to the rhythm of the music in the Toronto Blue Jays’ locker room, Springer began to dance.In this context, the power that defined Springer’s game and his dynamism, which made him a four-time All-Star, had faded. The search for those qualities tested Springer’s strength, making the 2025 season even more rewarding. Along with his swing, Springer found a purpose. The former World Series MVP wanted to take the Blue Jays back to the playoffs, win another championship, and, in addition, parade on a Royal Canadian Mounted Police horse through the streets of Toronto. The moment of truth is approaching. The Blue Jays host the New York Yankees at the Rogers Centre in the first game of the American League Division Series, a best-of-five series. Springer, 36, will bat first, act as designated hitter, and try to maintain the level of his best season in more than half a decade, at the time of year that motivates him the most to dance. Despite the talent of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the power of Daulton Varsho, and the timely hits of Bo Bichette, no one was more important to the 2025 Blue Jays than Springer. His .309 batting average ranked him fourth in MLB, his .399 on-base percentage, second, and his .560 slugging percentage, fifth. Only Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani surpassed Springer in weighted batting average, with a mark of .408. This recalled Springer’s times with the Houston Astros, when his prolific regular season performances culminated annually with unforgettable Octobers.“There has to be joy in the day,” Springer commented. “No matter how it goes. I’ve always been that way. When things don’t go your way, you look for things that aren’t there.”
George Springer
Even if age is the biggest obstacle to performance, the image of a diminished Springer, no longer able to patrol the garden like a gazelle, with an OPS of .674 last year, was a surprise. He arrived in Toronto in 2021 with a six-year, $150 million free agent contract to revive the glory days of the Blue Jays, who won their last World Series in 1992. Although Springer’s only championship was with the 2017 Astros, later exposed for a sign-stealing scheme, he had earned a reputation as an annual winner and postseason player, with 19 postseason home runs, tied for sixth all-time. Playing for a Toronto team that was swept in the wild-card round in 2022 and 2023 before finishing in last place in the American League East in 2024 eroded that reputation, as well as his numbers. This prompted him to accept suggestions from Toronto’s hitting coaches, David Popkins and Lou Iannotti, who joined Hunter Mense, to prioritize what they called his “A swing” more often. Springer’s ability to hit at high speed had evaporated in 2024, and it would have been easy to attribute it to age.“A lot of people took George Springer for granted, saying he was past his prime, thinking the Houston George they knew, the one they hated and played against, was gone,” Blue Jays right-handed pitcher Chris Bassitt said. “People thought that was a thing of the past. I’m proud of George for who he is and that he would never settle for being mediocre.”
Chris Bassitt
The road back wasn’t linear. In spring training, Springer hit .108 in 37 at-bats. He didn’t get a hit on Opening Day. The Toronto staff didn’t waver in their support. Springer’s body remained flexible and explosive, and Toronto’s coaches were convinced that over time the results would match the quality of his swings. The Blue Jays’ hitting coaches, Springer said, “have done everything they can to make sure I stay in the right mindset. That even if I hit the ball hard and I’m out, it’s okay. It’s focusing on the process and not the result.” The result would eventually equate to the process. The speed of his bat, which had dipped below 72 mph, crept up to 74, one of the biggest increases in MLB this year and in the top quartile of the league. He stopped chasing pitches outside the zone. He kept drawing walks. And when he got his A-swing going, he did extreme damage. He had an OPS of over 1,000 in each of the last three months of the season. Springer’s 32 home runs led the Blue Jays. His all-around game also peaked, with 18 stolen bases in 19 attempts and a thirst to wreak havoc on the bases.“Sometimes he was very, very passive, and he was very defensive, especially when batting,” Bassitt said. “And this year they have him focused on ‘No matter the count, be aggressive.’ He always feels like he’s attacking and in control of the bat, and then you make a mistake and he’s ready to take advantage of it.”
Chris Bassitt
According to his teammates, Springer on the field is only surpassed by his version off the field. He is loved in the Blue Jays’ locker room, where he acts as the wise man for a group of players in their 20s. When Varsho spent two months on the injured list with a hamstring strain, the only thing he could guarantee every day was that his phone would ring and he would see Springer trying to FaceTime. Springer’s support helped Varsho get through the waiting moments for an injury to heal, and it also served as learning time.“His baserunning has been contagious,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “That has set a standard for our team and helped us astronomically.”
John Schneider
That moment on the calendar has arrived. The Yankees, whom the Blue Jays beat in a tiebreaker to secure the top spot and home-field advantage in the American League, arrive in Toronto still reveling in their wild-card series victory against Boston. They know Springer well. He beat them in the wild-card game in 2015. He beat them in the American League Championship Series in 2017. He beat them in the American League Championship Series again in 2019. And now, starting with his 68th career playoff game, he has the opportunity to do it once more.“One thing I’ve learned from him is how to be able to shut your brain off after games. He’s the best,” Varsho said. “Whether it’s a good day or a bad day, it doesn’t matter. Once that game is over, it’s over. It’s one of the coolest things I’ve seen. I’ve never seen anyone be able to go right after the game, snap their fingers and it’s like, it’s over. And, honestly, it’s very, very impressive. Talking about him in terms of the postseason: that’s why he’s so good. Because he’s able to shut that brain off really quickly.”
Daulton Varsho
With more than 40,000 people at the Rogers Centre, there are few baseball environments more intense than Toronto’s. And that infuses Springer with even more energy to achieve his goal. He wants to celebrate a title by serving as an honorary member of the Mounted Police for a day, atop his steed, parading down a Bremner Boulevard packed with people. The Toronto Police Mounted Unit is happy to oblige. In a recent video, a police officer offered Springer a deal: Win the World Series and the coolest pony ride this side of HorseCapades is yours. The love for these Blue Jays, who were expected to finish last in the American League East, is infinite, and the least the city can do for its most productive player is offer him a ride. So today he will step into the batter’s box against Luis Gil and try to make this October as memorable as April to September. Unleashing his A swing. Fighting the good fight against the passage of time. And dancing until the end.“It doesn’t matter who you play against,” Springer said. “More than likely, you’ve played against them. More than likely, you’ve faced a guy on the mound before you play in these environments. The biggest difference is the overall environment is a lot more intense.”
George Springer
