Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider says that slugger George Springer will once again be the team’s leadoff hitter. Springer has served as a leadoff hitter for much of his career. But he did have a stretch in the middle of the order last season.
Per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com “John Schneider says that George Springer will stay locked in as the leadoff hitter in 2024.” “For Georgie, it’s about getting back to what he’s great at. Pulling the ball more is something he’s talking about.”
By hitting leadoff, Springer will be tasked with setting the table for Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Justin Turner and Daulton Varsho. The Blue Jays know that they all have to step it up if they want to have a better season.
George Springer Will Be Blue Jays Leadoff Hitter
Springer Dinger
Springer hit .258 last season and gets the nod as the Blue Jays’ leadoff hitter. He finished last season with 21 home runs and 72 RBI. Although he finished fourth-worst in strikeout total on the Jays with 125 he did hit 25 doubles. Springer also plays with a lot of energy and urgency. Last season he struggled with a long drought of not recording a hit but did not give up and eventually, his drought faded. Springer has speed with 20 stolen bases last season and had a game where he fouled off 13 pitches in a row and then ended up hitting a home run.
The Blue Jays will need everything that Springer has got as they are relying on him to give all he has got. He’s entering his fourth critical year in his six-year contract and his focus at the plate for the 2024 season will be all about pulling the ball more and essentially returning to what he’s great at.
Springer’s MLB Tenure
Springer is a 10-year veteran with the Houston Astros and Blue Jays. The 34-year-old is a four-time All-Star who helped the Astros win the World Series in 2017. He has helped the Blue Jays reach the postseason in each of the last two seasons. However, they have yet to win a playoff game in his tenure in Toronto. Springer and the rest of the tea, are up for the challenge. The Blue Jays will need to tighten up their offense and have a stacked lineup of pitchers they should have a bounce-back season. Let’s not forget that Kevin Kiermaier was the first Blue Jays free agent to resign with the Blue Jays and he is ready to give it his all.
Main Photo Credit: Cole Burston/Getty Images
