George Springer | American League Player Of The Week

George Springer | American League Player Of The Week

by | Aug 4, 2021 | THE LEAD OFF

George Springer reintroduced himself to the fans in the nation of Canada by taking home last week’s American League Player of the Week award.

 

 

It had been 670 days between this past Friday and September 29 of 2019 that the Blue Jays were able to play in front of their home fans at the Rogers Centre in Toronto and George Springer treated them to a show.  

The Jays spent time this season in Florida and most recently Buffalo, New York before Canada recently lifted travel restrictions allowing them to have home games.  For Springer, who signed a six-year $150 million deal this past offseason, it was the first time to show fans the investment in him was well worth every penny.

 

Springer was awarded his third career player of the week award after posting a .400 batting average, a .960 slugging percentage, seven RBI, five doubles and three home runs including a multi home run game in Saturday’s contest against Kansas City.  That includes Springer’s 40th career leadoff home run which places him at eighth on the all-time list. 

 

 

He stayed locked in early, as in his next at-bat in the third inning he followed with a two-run homer, giving him another opportunity to rock the Blue Jays home run jacket. 

On Tuesday night he hit his 41st career bomb.

 

 

Springer now has hits in 14 of his last 15 games entering Tuesday and has been one of the hottest players at the plate through his last 15 games.  He has six home runs, scored 17 times, has 11 RBI and an .825 slugging percentage over that stretch.

 

 

He has meant much more to this young Blue Jays team than just his numbers at the plate.  Springer is one of the top center fielders in majors and he along with All-Star second baseman Marcus Semien, who was announced as the winner the Blue Jays 2021 Heart and Hustle award on Tuesday, have constantly brought leadership to the clubhouse. 

 

 

After a few trade deadline additions and with the talent brought in over the offseason to go along with the young stars in Toronto, they are going all in on being contenders for a World Series Championship this season.  Springer has the most experience out of the group, and players will look for him to lead the way both at the plate and on the bench whenever the playoff pressure is at its highest.

Springer and the Jays have a few games left in their series against the newly named Cleveland Guardians before a huge weekend series that will see the Boston Red Sox come to town.Â