Blue Jays' Springer heating up as Opening Day approaches
Photo credit: https://x.com/BlueJays
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer is optimistic about upcoming season after he hit his first homerun of Spring Training.
When George Springer bounced across home plate and broke into the long choreography of handshakes and high fives, he looked like a man who missed these moments.
Springer, grinning widely, threw his arms up as he crossed home plate then again as he arrived at the dugout and broke into the long choreography of handshakes and high fives, he looked like a man who missed these moments. following his first homer of the spring, a three-run drive in the third inning yesterday.
The 35-year-old outfielder added a walk, his eighth of camp, and is now batting .114/.311/.229 in 14 Grapefruit League games.
«It's exciting,» Springer said of having fun after the blast. «This is why you work, for moments like that, to kind of reassure yourself that everything you're doing is on the right track. Obviously you have to make adjustments, that's the name of the game. But at this point, it's good to see what I've been doing and the process slowly unfold. I thought the at-bats have been good. I haven't necessarily gotten the hit result, but staying in the strike zone, looking for stuff to hit and if it's not on the plate, don't swing. There's been a lot of good that I can take away from
Springer continued to downplay spring numbers, saying that «now's the time to fail,» and he has the full trust of the Blue Jays' coaching staff in that. He's also been putting in extra work with Popkins, whose arrival seems to have energized many of the Blue Jays' biggest names.
Speaking on the Sportsnet broadcast with Dan Shulman and Buck Martinez soon after Springer's blast, Popkins praised the Blue Jays' outfielder for the work he's been doing in the cages, which finally spilled over into a game.
«This is why you work Springer said, to reassure yourself that everything you're doing is on the right track. If you have to make adjustments, then that's the name of the game, but at this point it's good to see what I've been doing and that whole process slowly unfold.»
Springer continued to downplay spring numbers, saying that «now's the time to fail,» and he has the full trust of the Blue Jays' coaching staff in that.
He's also been putting in extra work with hitting coach David Popkins, whose arrival seems to have energized many of the Blue Jays' biggest names.
«You're just looking at the process,» Popkins said. «Is he swinging at good pitches? Is he swinging hard and with intent, not getting guarded? A lot of times when hitters are feeling a little off, they start being really safe with their moves and their bat speed starts to go down because they're just trying to touch the ball. It's just about making sure he's up there swinging with intent, and that's something he's done his whole career.»
Like Schneider said earlier in the week, the Blue Jays don't need Springer to hit 40 home runs and drive in 100 runs. They'd take it, but the definition for a successful season with Springer will come from moments like yesterday's home run.
The Blue Jays have their one-two-three punch in Bo Bichette, Guerrero and Santander, but they'll need some added punch from the rest of the lineup.
With Springer clearly vacating his long-held leadoff spot, one path to success could be him chasing more power, delivering some big blows along the way.
The real games haven't started yet, of course, but if nothing else, Friday's big fly was an opportunity for Springer to exhale before a crucial season begins.
SOURCE: MLB.com Sportsnet
| POLL | ||
MARS 22 | 190 ANSWERS Blue Jays' Springer heating up as Opening Day approaches Can George Springer bounce back in 2025? | ||
| Yes | 85 | 44.7 % |
| No | 49 | 25.8 % |
| Too early to tell | 56 | 29.5 % |
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