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Blue Jays: George Springer is silencing the doubters with one of the best seasons of his career
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Blue Jays: George Springer is silencing the doubters with one of the best seasons of his career

Originally posted on Bluejaysnation
By Nicholas Paleolog  |  Last updated Jul 12, 2025 9:00 AM ET

He was ridiculed, written off, and there were even calls for the Blue Jays to release him entirely. And we’ll be the first to admit — here at Blue Jays Today, we were part of that chorus. George Springer looked completely lost in 2024, and at 35 years old, it felt like the end of the line following his spring training woes.

But against all odds, Springer has done what few in baseball history have managed to do: completely reinvent himself.

And in doing so, he’s playing not just productive baseball, but arguably some of the best baseball of his career.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Let’s start with the cold, hard facts.

Through this point in the 2025 season, Springer is slashing:

  • .276 AVG / .369 OBP / .500 SLG / .869 OPS

Compare that to last season:

  • .220 AVG / .303 OBP / .371 SLG / .674 OPS

That’s a 56-point jump in batting average, 66 points in OBP, 129 in slugging, and an absurd 195-point jump in OPS. For a guy entering the twilight of his career, it’s a jaw-dropping resurgence. He’s also chipped in 16 doubles. 16 home runs, and 53 RBIs this season while striking out just 67 times through 88 at-bats. Springer also owns a 139 OPS+ and a .374 wOBA.

So what happened?

The Popkins’ Effect — and Something Deeper

Sure, you can start with the David Popkins effect — the Jays’ new hitting coach, who brought a fresh, damage-focused approach to the team. But it goes deeper than that. A quick look at Springer’s Baseball Savant page paints a pretty clear picture.

His expected batting average, expected slugging, and barrel rate have all skyrocketed. But one stat stands out above the rest: Launch Angle Sweet Spot%.

  • In 2024, Springer ranked in the 6th percentile for sweet spot contact.

  • In 2025? He’s in the 95th percentile — a massive leap.

For context, the last time Springer was even close to that number was in 2021, when he posted a .907 OPS. With that improved launch angle, Springer is hitting fewer ground balls — his ground ball rate has dropped from 49.8% to just 38.5%, a career-best mark and one of the lowest among qualified hitters this year.

So yes, the mechanics have changed — but so has the mindset.

“Hit the Ball Out of the Ballpark”

Earlier this year, Dan Shulman shared an insightful story on the JD Bunkis Podcast. During spring training in 2024, Shulman asked Springer what his goal was for the season. The answer?

“Get on base for Vladdy.”

Flash forward to 2025, and the response had changed.

“Hit the ball out of the ballpark.”

That shift in mentality — away from being a table-setter and toward being a damage-dealer — aligns perfectly with Popkins and his philosophy. Springer isn’t trying to be someone he’s not anymore. He’s embracing his power, optimizing his swing path, and trusting that the results will follow.

What Comes Next?

This isn’t a fluke. This is a veteran adjusting, buying in, and finding a second wind. Springer looks energized, confident, and focused — a far cry from the struggling slugger who had fans and analysts wondering if his best days were behind him.

There’s still a lot of season left, but if this version of George Springer appears to be here to stay, it could be one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent Blue Jays history.

This article first appeared on Bluejaysnation and was syndicated with permission.

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