Springer entering pivotal '24 for career, Blue Jays

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Even in a sprawling complex of baseball fields and buildings, George Springer is easy to find.

He’s a one-man band who dances more than he stands still, and he rarely stands still. Springer vibrates with energy, all the joy and optimism of Spring Training spilling out of one man.

In batting practice, he jabs away at teammates, speaking baseball’s love language. On his final swing of a recent session, he turned on a ball and arched his body, begging the ball to stay fair before throwing his arms into the air in celebration. On Thursday, when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. turned to disagree with a strike call in a live batting practice session, there was Springer, pointing at Guerrero and throwing him out of the non-existent game.

Then, there’s Springer the competitor. Springer flips a switch, narrows his focus and becomes the ballplayer who won a World Series MVP with the Astros in 2017. It’s that reputation for performing on the biggest stages that landed Springer the six-year, $150 million deal with the Blue Jays that’s halfway through. Coming off another early exit in the Wild Card round, though, Springer and the Blue Jays are still searching for that stage.

“Guys have understood that there’s a certain brand that needs to be played here,” Springer said. “This is a tough division, a tough league. You cannot take off one pitch, one play, one at-bat. Guys now have four or five years of experience together and expect the best out of one another. Don’t be afraid to say something if you see it. There’s a standard that’s been set.”

Springer’s message matches what we heard from Bo Bichette earlier in the week. After years of being preseason darlings, the Blue Jays are being doubted now. Winning wouldn’t prove people right in 2024, it would prove them wrong.

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“For us to bring a World Series home to Toronto, to bring one back to the country would be amazing,” Springer said. “That’s the goal every Spring Training. That’s what we believe in. That’s what I believe this team can do.”

The Blue Jays need Springer to be driving this alongside Bichette, Guerrero Jr. and others. He’ll be back in the leadoff spot in 2024, likely followed by Bichette and Vlad Jr., so any change in offensive approach will begin at the top.

A year ago, Springer hit .258 with a .732 OPS, the lowest number he’s posted over a decade in the big leagues. The Blue Jays need that OPS to live closer to .800, and the more Springer is on base in front of the big bats, the better.

“Last year was kind of a weird year for him,” manager John Schneider said. “There was nothing crazy in terms of the way he was swinging the bat and there was some bad luck, too. For Georgie, it’s about getting back to what he’s great at. Pulling the ball more is something he’s talking about.”

One number on Springer’s stat line that did look good in 2023? The 154 games played. That was his highest number since appearing in all 162 back in ‘16, and while he’s not about to chase that number again, last season proved to Springer that he’s still capable of being out there nearly every day after several seasons that were slowed by injuries. It’s not all about the move to right field, as Springer joked that he doesn’t exactly play the game slow, but the Blue Jays seem to have found the right balance for their veteran with 128 starts in right and 20 DH days.

“I learned a lot about myself,” Springer said. “I learned what I can be better at, how I can help guys. It’s stuff that obviously is going to stay in [the clubhouse], but as we go on, we learn together. To build off that and to understand that experience, even if it is not the way we wanted it to end, you still learn from it and grow.”

Springer knows what it looks like when a team goes from good to great, but there’s no magic recipe. Veteran infielder Justin Turner said the same, pointing to his nine trips to the postseason with the Dodgers that led to one World Series. If this was simpler, everyone would do it.

The Blue Jays have three years left to get Springer to those moments, and with Guerrero and Bichette both entering their final two years of club control, there’s not much certainty beyond those. The time for Springer, and this roster, has to be now.