TORONTO – Manager John Schneider believes that George Springer, the elder statesman of the Toronto Blue Jays, is off to a big begin to the season because he’s at peace with himself.
Within the Blue Jays’ third win in a row, a 5-3 decision within the series opener against the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, the 35-year-old Springer found a technique to safely reach base 4 times. Springer walked twice, knocked out a homer within the fifth inning and reached base on a catcher’s interference call.
This was one other example of his comeback after a poor 2024.
“I feel last 12 months he got caught up in lots of different stuff, attempting to do an excessive amount of, and just having one thing leading to a different,” Schneider said.
“He carried us for a couple of month but wasn’t there all 12 months. So finding peace … I feel having a transparent mindset, understanding that it’s not going to be perfect each night, and just being invested in each at bat.”
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Springer credits conversations with Schneider and Blue Jays associate manager DeMarlo Hale.
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“It goes back to something Schneids says, Demarlo says,” Springer said. “‘Every single day, just do something to assist the team win.’
“Obviously, one swing of the bat might help, but having the ability to walk or get hit by a pitch or rating a run. There’s multiple technique to help the team. It’s type of my job to do as many things as I can to assist us win.”
Springer has reached base safely three or more times in a single game five times this season.
His .423 on-base percentage ranks fourth in Major League Baseball, and he’s develop into a homebody this season.
In 14 games played at Rogers Centre this season, Springer has batted .325 with 4 doubles, two homers, 10 runs scored and 7 RBI.
“I just got back to who I’m as a player,” Springer said. “I understand, last 12 months was last 12 months and it’s over with.
“We don’t want that to occur again. That’s not who I’m as a player, but I learned lots from it. And, here we’re.”
After earning his second walk of the sport within the eighth inning, he stole second and advanced to 3rd on Alejandro Kirk’s bloop single to right field.
He wound up scoring the winning run on Nathan Lukes’s two-run single.
“His conversations in between at-bats immediately are different than they were last 12 months,” Schneider said. “He’s specializing in the subsequent thing, the subsequent pitch, the subsequent swing. And I feel it just gives you somewhat bit more freedom.”
LUKES DELIVERS
Backup outfielder Nathan Lukes entered the sport as a pinch hitter within the sixth inning but struck out.
Two innings later, the 30-year-old delivered a two-out, two-run single to right field to snap a tie. In his last 10 games, Lukes has batted .364 with a double, a homer, scored six times and five RBI.
“He’s a consistent player, and when playing time isn’t concrete, it could actually be tough,” Schneider said. “But I feel he’s suited pretty much for that role. He has a fairly easy swing.
“Confidence is a giant thing. He’s shown that he can play at this level. It’s been a weird type of winding road for him.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 2, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
