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George Springer’s Productive At-Bats a Positive Early Sign for Blue Jays

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George Springer is hoping for a better output on offense this season.

George Springer is coming off a rough 2024 season and spring training, but he is slowly gaining rhythm on offense for the Toronto Blue Jays. His recent play has proven so. His ability to provide productive at-bats on a consistent basis is significant. This was apparent against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, when he went 2-for-4, including a two-RBI single in the first inning and a double in the eighth.

The veteran Springer is hoping to rebound from last season. His lackluster offense forced the Blue Jays to move him down from the leadoff spot. But Bo Bichette has showcased reliable offense and is starting to open up his offense with consistent at-bats. He’s shown why he makes a good new leadoff hitter. But if Springer continues to rebound with his offense, it will help Toronto greatly this year. He did have a good chase rate last season at 23.5%. If he can improve his strikeout rate (18.7%) and walk rate (9.8%), it would benefit him to stand out this season.

The Chances of George Springer’s Offense Rebounding This Season

When Springer maintains good plate discipline, he tends to generate a lot offensively. Springer’s two-run single helped the Blue Jays beat the Orioles by a 3-1 score. It’s also worth noting that Springer recorded one of the three fastest tracked swings on Sunday (81.8 mph).

This season, he needs to work on boosting his average exit velocity, which dropped last season. He has four hits and has stolen a base this season. If he’s able to utilize his speed on the basepaths, his chances of rebounding this year will grow. His swing, in particular, is what has stood out in his past few games. His subpar numbers from spring and last season were worrisome, but he hit .364 in the series against the Orioles. Could this be his season to turn things around? We already know how Springer is in the outfield, which he showed by making an impressive diving catch on Opening Day.

What Springer Needs to Do to Stand Out

If Springer can improve his offense, it will benefit the Blue Jays in a big way by helping provide more scoring opportunities. The veteran is a four-time All-Star, a two-time Silver Slugger, and the 2017 World Series MVP. Last season, he hit .220 with 19 home runs, 56 RBI, and a .674 OPS. In camp this season, he hit only .108 (4-for-37) with a home run and five RBI. His career high in home runs is 39, back in 2019. While he likely won’t hit that many, if he hits in the 25-30 range, it would be an upgrade for Springer. Getting back over the .250 mark and an OPS over .700 would also indicate a strong rebound offensively.

Whenever Springer is on point for the Blue Jays at the plate, it has an impact on the team’s success. He has two years remaining on his six-year, $150 million deal. His defensive contributions will always be respected. His willingness to shift and play left field for the Blue Jays illustrates both his versatility and his desire to contribute in whatever way helps.

The Blue Jays’ hope for Springer this season is for him to rebound at the plate. Manager John Schneider has highlighted the significance of the team collectively having a solid mental approach at the plate. Springer has shown spurts of progress and improvement in his recent play, especially compared to last season and this spring training. If he can remain effective on the basepaths with his speed and capitalize on enhancing scoring opportunities, this will put the team in a better position.

Photo Credit: © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

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