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Toronto Blue Jays' George Springer turns down invite to play in World Baseball Classic
Photo credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer had an incredible year in 2025.
Springer posted a career-high .309 batting average, a .399 on-base percentage, a .959 OPS, 32 home runs and 84 RBIs across 140 games.
His performance earned him a Silver Slugger Award and a seventh-place finish in AL MVP voting.
The move to a primarily designated hitter role turned out to be a smart decision.
Springer received an invitation from Puerto Rico's general manager, Carlos Beltran, to join that nation's team roster.
Beltran was a teammate of Springer during his tenure with the Houston Astros, .
«Carlos Beltran confirmed that Riley Greene, Nolan Arenado and George Springer have been invited to play for Puerto Rico in the WBC,» reported Jorge Castillo of ESPN.
Springer's decision not to play in WBC attributed to lingering injuries and commitment to Blue Jays
The decision is a significant one for Springer, who Tuesday made the decision not to suit up for Puerto Rico, according to Antolin Maldonado Rios of El Nuevo Dia.
George Springer confirmed he will not play for Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, per @antolinmr71
He endured a lengthy 2025 season that stretched into November. He battled injury throughout the playoffs, even sitting out two games in the World Series due to right side discomfort. As a result, his choice was attributed to his injuries.
Springer has never played in a World Baseball Classic, though he was on provisional rosters and considered participating in 2017 while with the Astros. The opportunity to wear the uniform is meaningful.
After coming so close to winning it all last season, Springer is determined to help the Blue Jays finish the job and bring a championship back to Canada.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 30 | 163 ANSWERS Toronto Blue Jays' George Springer turns down invite to play in World Baseball Classic Are you happy George Spring is resting up for the season ahead instead of playing in the World Baseball Classic? | ||
| Yes | 162 | 99.4 % |
| No | 1 | 0.6 % |
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