The Toronto Blue Jays, currently leading the American League East and holding the top seed in the AL playoff picture if the postseason began today, are anticipating the return of George Springer to their lineup. Springer was placed on the concussion injured list on August 1, retroactive to July 29, after being hit in the head during an at-bat. According to <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson, Springer is slated to play with Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, and if he passes the MLB concussion protocol and feels ready, he might only require a single rehab game before rejoining the Blue Jays lineup.
Springer’s Performance Trending Upward This Season
At 35 years old, George Springer is experiencing a notable resurgence in 2024 following a difficult year. Prior to landing on the injured list, Springer had appeared in 101 games, batting .291 with 18 home runs, 57 RBIs, an .889 OPS, and a 145 OPS+—the highest OPS+ he’s posted since 2019. His bWAR has already surpassed his entire 2024 total, reaching 2.3. The majority of Springer’s production has come from his role as designated hitter, though he has split time between DH and right field.
During his absence, Toronto has rotated through Nathan Lukes, Joey Loperfido, and Addison Barger in right field. This marks only the second time since 2021 that Springer has been sidelined with injury, with the previous stint on the IL occurring in 2022 due to elbow inflammation. Springer’s first season with Toronto in 2021 was also hindered by injury, limiting him to 78 games.
Springer’s Past Struggles and Current Impact
While Springer delivered his best season since 2022 earlier this year, his decline began to show in late 2023, culminating in his worst career year in 2024. During that season, Springer registered a career-low .220 batting average and a 91 OPS+, both career lows as he finished below a 100 OPS+ for the first time. He also failed to reach a 2.0 bWAR, ending with just 1.1.
Currently, his return is viewed as a critical boost to Toronto’s efforts to maintain their dominance atop the AL East. A strong lineup including recent acquisitions Seranthony Dominguez, Shane Bieber, Louis Varland, and Ty France has been bolstered by Springer’s pending return. The Blue Jays were active at the trade deadline to enhance their roster depth and playoff aspirations, and getting Springer back at this stage could be pivotal.
“he may just need that one rehab game.”
—Keegan Matheson, MLB.com
Implications for the Blue Jays’ Playoff Push
The Blue Jays stand poised to strengthen their playoff positioning with Springer’s comeback, as his performance at the plate has been a key factor in the team’s success this season. Concussions require careful management, so while his exact return date may depend on ongoing evaluations, the impact of his presence on the club’s offense and lineup balance cannot be understated. Continuing his current pace could significantly influence Toronto’s path to defending their lead in the AL East and advancing deep into the postseason.