The Toronto Blue Jays are back in the postseason, and with a star-studded roster, one player may prove more valuable than the rest: Right fielder George Springer.
After two less than stellar seasons, Springer has enjoyed a revival in 2025 while propelling his team to the top of the American League East, posting a career-high .309 batting average to go along with 32 home runs, his highest mark in a Blue Jays uniform. Springer’s batting average ranked fourth in Major League Baseball, his .399 on-base percentage ranked second and his .560 slugging percentage ranked fifth, indicating a return to form to his days with the Houston Astros.
More importantly, he brings a level of playoff success and leadership Toronto will need for its end goal of bringing home the commissioner's trophy.
A former World Series MVP and four-time All-Star, Springer is well acquainted with October baseball. The 36-year-old also has a propensity to shine against the New York Yankees, who the Blue Jays will host in the first of a best-of-five American League Division Series on Saturday.
In 87 career games against the Yankees, Springer has a .263 batting average with 15 home runs and 45 RBIs. Since signing a six-year, $150 million free agent contract with Toronto in 2021, he has logged a .302 batting average, 11 home runs and 32 RBIs with a .904 OPS in 58 games.
"A lot of people wrote off George Springer, said he's passed his prime, thought the Houston George that I knew and I hated and I played against was gone," Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt told ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan. "People thought that was a thing in the past. I'm just proud of George being kind of who he is and never really just being OK with being average."
For the first time, Springer looks like the type of player Toronto poured money into nearly five years ago. He has undergone a career renaissance, especially at the plate.
After Toronto cratered to a last place finish in the division in 2024, Springer began taking the advice of hitting coaches David Popkins, Lou Iannotti and Hunter Mense, Passan wrote. Under their watch, Springer has been implementing a methodically aggressive approach st the plate, otherwise known as getting off what Toronto’s hitting coaches called his "A-swing" more often.
It hadn’t been an easy transition for Springer, who has been compelled to adjust in the later stages of his career.
"He was very, very passive at times, and he was very defensive, especially hitting-wise," Bassitt said. "And this year they have him locked into 'No matter the count, it's just aggressive.' He always feels like he's on the attack and in control of the bat, and then you make a mistake and he's ready for it."
It was far from an immediate remedy as Springer’s .108 spring training batting average would suggest. Nevertheless, Toronto’s coaching staff remained confident in Springer, ensuring that his mental clarity was not being interrupted by his own expectations.
“They have done everything they can to make sure that I stay in the right headspace,” Springer said. “That even if I hit a ball hard and I'm out, it's OK. It's to focus on the process and not the result."
Now, Springer has the chance to lead the Blue Jays to their first World Series title since 1992. Despite his familiarity with the Yankees and his past success against the organization, Springer is not overly caught up with the opponent at hand.
"It doesn't matter who you're playing," Springer said. "You've most likely already played them. You've most likely faced a guy on the mound before you've played in these environments. The biggest difference is the overall atmosphere is much more intense."