Blue Jays' ageless wonder George Springer continues to defy the odds in Toronto
Photo credit: https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/32078/george-springer
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer's 16th home run of the season set the stage for the 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels at Rogers Centre and he nearly walked it off, too, but Addison Barger was Saturday's hero, his 11th-inning single giving the Blue Jays their seventh straight win as they extend their lead atop the division.
Every corner of this roster and coaching staff deserves its share of credit, but with five homers in his past five games and 21 RBIs in his past 11, Springer is playing the best baseball of his career at the unlikeliest time.
«He's on a heater right now,» said manager John Schneider. «That home run, you look up and it's a 97 mph sinker and he hits it 109 mph to dead center? You look at what that result might have been last year, and it might have been different.
«He's been so good. He's been so big for us the past couple of weeks. He's still showing the league that he can do this. I think he should be an American League All-Star, no doubt.»
Since 1901, only four players in their age-35 season or later have put up 15-plus home runs and 10-plus stolen bases before the All-Star break.
George Springer: 16 HR, 10 SB in 2025
Alfonso Soriano: 16 HR, 10 SB in 2013
Gary Sheffield: 21 HR, 12 SB in 2007
Reggie Sanders: 18 HR, 14 SB in 2005
Alfonso Soriano: 16 HR, 10 SB in 2013
Gary Sheffield: 21 HR, 12 SB in 2007
Reggie Sanders: 18 HR, 14 SB in 2005
This is rare company. Looking forward, Soriano was the last player to finish the season with 25-plus home runs and 15-plus steals, which Springer is on pace to do.
Only eight players 35 or older have done this all-time and none have had an OPS+ as high as the 145 Springer entered Saturday with.
Springer is always quick to deflect, more eager to put the praise on a teammate than himself, but he can't dodge this.
He's been at the heart of the Blue Jays' baserunning resurgence, preaching effort, effort, effort, while also taking a clearer and obvious leadership role. He just seems so energized.
«My body feels good and my mind feels good,» Springer said. «I'm just trying to do anything that I can to help us win. It's a thing that Schneider says every day and [associate manager] DeMarlo [Hale] says it every day, 'Just do something to help us win.' When you embrace that, you don't try to do too much. There are still times you'll do that, because you're human, but it's about doing what you can to help us win.»
"It's amazing to watch,» said Max Scherzer. «It's amazing to be in the dugout. We believe in everybody on this roster and everybody on this roster is getting a chance to shine. You can talk about Barger with the throw and getting the game-winning hit, then what Springer's doing, my gosh he's on fire.»
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 6 | 282 ANSWERS Blue Jays' ageless wonder George Springer continues to defy the odds in Toronto Do you think George Springer can continue producing at this pace for the rest of the season? | ||
| Yes | 180 | 63.8 % |
| No | 68 | 24.1 % |
| Too early to tell | 34 | 12.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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