On Sunday, George Springer, the experienced outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays, committed a puzzling error during a game against the Oakland A’s at Rogers Centre. After a sharp double by Alejandro Kirk in the fifth inning, Springer was advancing from first to third base but ended up making an embarrassing base running error that led to him being tagged out.
The Critical Moment: Hopping at Third Base
Instead of safely staying on the base, Springer inexplicably began hopping in place at third base, seemingly unaware of the incoming tag. Oakland’s third baseman Max Schuemann quickly took advantage of the situation, tagging Springer mid-hop and ending the inning. Initially, the umpire did not call Springer out, but after Oakland’s challenge, video replay overturned the call, confirming the out and drawing frustration from the crowd and commentators alike.
Manager’s Explanation for Springer’s Odd Move
Following the game, Blue Jays manager John Schneider provided some explanation for Springer’s bizarre action at the base. He revealed that Springer had slightly twisted his left ankle during the play, which led to him testing it by hopping rather than staying grounded.
“Georgie kind of tweaked his left ankle a little bit,”
Schneider said.
“I kind of saw the whole thing unfold. He wasn’t dancing, he wasn’t doing anything crazy, he was just kind of testing his ankle out. It’s the blessing and the curse of replay. He’s sitting there safe and he popped off the base. He was as (upset) as anyone. And he’s about as smart of a base runner as we have.”
—John Schneider, Toronto Blue Jays manager
Game Outcome and Broader Implications
Despite Springer’s unusual base running error that resulted in an embarrassing tag, the Toronto Blue Jays recovered well and defeated the Oakland A’s 8-4. This incident, however, highlights how quickly a small injury or moment of hesitation can lead to costly mistakes in a high-stakes game. George Springer’s embarrassing tag hopping base will likely be remembered as a rare misstep in an otherwise solid career, emphasizing that even veteran players can have surprising lapses under pressure.