BRONX, NY — Over his 13-year MLB playing career, George Springer of the Toronto Blue Jays has accomplished pretty much every feat one could dream of achieving in the majors.
Selected in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft with the 11th overall pick by the Houston Astros, out of the University of Connecticut where the New Britain, Connecticut native quickly morphed into a hometown star, Springer became the highest-drafted MLB player in UConn history.
Besides keeping in touch with UConn’s head baseball coach Jim Penders and the Huskies coaching staff, George Springer watches every single UConn basketball game, stating “it’s a staple in the household” – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
His career resume since the life-changing moment on June 6th of 2011 (Round 1 of the MLB Draft) features over 1,500 hits, four All-Star appearances, three Silver Slugger Awards and a 2017 World Series championship ring.
A championship ring he earned by producing in the clutch for Houston, so much so Springer was named the 2017 World Series MVP—piling up 11 hits across 34 plate appearances in the 2017 Fall Classic vs. the Dodgers with five home runs, seven RBI, five walks and an OPS of 1.471.
He’s also responsible for one of the most iconic swings in Blue Jays franchise history, helping send Toronto to the 2025 World Series on a go-ahead seventh inning three-run homer in Game 7 of the ALCS vs. the Mariners—one of so many of Springer’s postseason moments.
Yet with all that the 36-year-old’s been honored to be a part of and blessed to accomplish, number one on that career list according to him goes to making an impact off the playing diamond just as much as he has on it.
You see, although Springer is a highly decorated athlete, one of the top sluggers in the game, especially when the calendar flips to October, he, like many in our society, no matter the age, stutters.
For Springer, he did not begin to fully face the issue head on or attempt to until he was called up to the majors, which is another achievement in its own—climbing up Houston’s farm system while not being 100% comfortable and accepting of himself due to stuttering.
George Springer has made a consistent impact on the diamond throughout his 13-year MLB playing career and the same could be said for his work off it with The Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY) – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Once arriving to the show, debuting with the Astros in 2014, not too long after Springer decided to become an official spokesperson for The Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY), a national nonprofit organization that provides support, advocacy, and life-changing experiences for young people (ages 3-18) who stutter.
“It’s something that’s very close to my heart and it was a very easy decision for me,” said Springer on giving back and helping those who battle with stuttering by joining in with SAY.
“I understand what every kid and what every adult is going through, so I have the platform to do it, and wanted to do it.”
Just one year off his rookie campaign, finishing eighth in the 2014 American League Rookie of the Year voting, the then 25-year-old opted to host an annual “All-Star Bowling Event” which involves Springer, teammates, coaches and other professional athletes participating in a bowling event to raise money for children and their families to attend Camp SAY—a summer camp owned and ran by SAY.
George Springer became an official spokesperson for the The Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY) during his rookie season in 2014 with the Houston Astros – Image Credit: The Stuttering Association for the Young
On the move for an annual bowling event out of all ideas, Springer replied: “I kinda felt like that was the right thing to do, I feel like everyone loves bowling. What’s a better thing for kids to do than come enjoy and have some fun bowling? The kids, their parents, moms and dads all out there enjoying the atmosphere and having a good time.”
Having a good time off the field and making an impact too. On the diamond, that same trend is there for Springer (three HRs, nine RBI, and a .595 OPS), although he’s off to a slow start to 2026 for his standards while missing some time this season due to a fractured toe.
Despite the slow start and painful stretch, hit by a pitch on his left big toe back on May 2nd, he still remains the same gritty player, carrying himself with the attitude of getting better each and every day—a mindset that got him to where he is today.
George Springer, teammates with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. since 2021 in Toronto, had some glowing remarks about Vladdy Jr., stating “the thing with Vladdy is he’s so talented and he’s so humble, he’s such a great teammate and an unbelievable human being” – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
On Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, as Toronto began to gear up for first pitch against the Yankees in the Bronx, he was one of the first Jays out of the clubhouse in ninety-plus degree weather.
On what specifically he was working on to get prepared for game time, he noted: “Really slowing things down and making sure I’m (flushing) the ball. I’ve only played in 20 something games (29), so there’s a lot of games to go, and I gotta get the hang of how I’m getting pitched to and all that stuff. I just wanna make sure that from a mechanical standpoint, I’m in a good place to start the game.”
Other than in a good place before first pitch, Springer’s aforementioned accomplishments and epic October swings places him amongst the greatest postseason players to ever step up the plate—smashing 23 career postseason home runs (tied third-most all-time) with 93 hits (10th most all-time), and 48 RBI (tied 10th-most all-time).
“This is everything and more,” he said on if his career has turned out the way Springer had pictured it’d be during his days as an Astros prospect.
“I’m very blessed and very fortunate to have played as long as I have. I just remember the whole goal was hopefully get the call one day, and I was able to, and then obviously stick around. So it’s been anything higher than what I could imagine.”
Stuck around and still making a winning impact day by day however Springer credited his wife Charlise—who played softball at the University of Albany and later for Puerto Rico’s National Team—for that, keeping him competitive and wired at all times.
“It’s awesome, she gets on my case a lot,” Springer revealed. “She knows how to hit, so it’s been fun. It’s a very competitive household and I love every moment of it.”
George Springer’s father George (football) and mother Laura (gymnastics) were both athletes at UConn while his sisters Lena and Nicole played softball at Ohio State and Central Connecticut State University – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Speaking of households and embracing the moment, Springer—with Puerto Rican and Panamanian roots as his mother was born and raised in Utuado, Puerto Rico while his grandfather on his father’s side emigrated from Panama at the age of 17—takes pride in his heritage each chance he gets.
“There’s a lot of Spanish being spoken in my household and a lot of very, very cool moments with my grandma,” Springer said, with plans of visiting Panama and Puerto Rico down the line.
“She’s one of a kind. To listen to her tell stories of when she was a kid on the island (Puerto Rico) is awesome. I’m extremely proud of my heritage.”
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Julio
May 20, 2026 at 1:38 pm
Excellent article showing a different side of Springer.