With spring training games set to start on Saturday for the Toronto Blue Jays , manager John Schneider has declared that slugger George Springer will once again be the team's leadoff hitter in 2024.
Per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com:
John Schneider says that George Springer will stay locked in as the leadoff hitter in 2024, and… “For Georgie, it’s about getting back to what he’s great at. Pulling the ball more is something he’s talking about.” #BlueJays
Springer has served as a leadoff hitter for much of his career but did have a stretch in the middle of the order last year for Toronto. By hitting leadoff, he'll be tasked with setting the table for Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Daulton Varsho.
The 34-year-old Connecticut native is a 10-year veteran with the Houston Astros and Blue Jays. He is a four-time All-Star who helped the Astros win the World Series in 2017. He's also helped the Jays get to the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, though they have failed to win a single playoff game in that time.
Lifetime, Springer is a .267 hitter. In 2023, he hit .258 while pumping out 21 home runs and driving in 72 runs. He also stole 20 bases.
The Blue Jays are once again expected to be a playoff contender in the American League but the East division should be a bear, with the 101-win Orioles, 99-win Rays and the New York Yankees all looking like strong candidates to do damage in the standings.
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