George Springer Makes Toronto Blue Jays Debut | Return Of The Game’s Best Leadoff Hitter

George Springer Makes Toronto Blue Jays Debut | Return Of The Game’s Best Leadoff Hitter

by | Apr 29, 2021 | THE THREE SPOT

The Blue Jays have been dangerous but inconsistent. That’s to be expected from a team fueled by the youthful exuberance and unlimited potential of their young second-generation MLB stars (Cavan Biggio, Bo Bichette, Vlad Guerrero Jr.).

20-something’s figuring it out along the way and doing a damn good job of it.  

At 11-12 and sitting in third place in the AL East behind the Tampa Rays and the surprising Red Sox, you can’t be mad at the Blue Jays. They are only 4 games out of first and are gaining strength with a fortified roster. 

Adding veteran Marcus Semien and George Springer in the offseason was supposed to elevate Toronto to contender status. Semien has been solid and holding down the fort as a veteran presence, but Springer was finally activated from the injured list, taking the field for the first time this season on Wednesday night against the Nationals.  

 

 

The Blue Jays lost the game 8-2 and Springer took an 0-4 collar, but his presence on the field was reason for optimism about the future. Even in a game where MLBBros Josh Bell and Josh Harrison homered for Washington and overshadowed the three-time All-Star’s Blue Jays debut. 

It was anticipated that Springer would play on Tuesday, but the Blue Jays wanted to give their $150 million man one more day to rehab the right quad strain that’s kept him out since April. 

“I want to play. I’m tired of being on the IL and not being out there with the guys,” Springer said before Wednesday’s return. 

Skipper Charlie Montoya was tired of it too.

Springer is arguably the best lead-off hitter in the game and he has championship experience as the MVP of the 2017 Houston Astros World Series win. 

 

 

He’s a five-tool baller who is just a COVID season removed from 2019 when had an MVP-caliber season and clubbed 39 homers with 96 RBI. He’s only 30 years old and Toronto paid him a nice bag to be the clubhouse presence and electrifying force that he was in Houston. 

Springer landed on the IL late in Spring Training with an oblique strain, and just as he was finishing his rehab from that injury, the three-time All-Star outfielder strained his right quad. 

The Blue Jays want Springer to be healthy for the long haul, so they were purposely cautious with his rehab process.  With underdogs like Boston elevating and favorites such as the Yankees and Tampa struggling to reach .500., Toronto believes it has a real shot at the playoffs. 

With Springer finally, in the fold, those playoff chances have elevated quite a bit.