
The Toronto Blue Jays lineup for the 2026 MLB season will not feature infielder Bo Bichette, as the long‑time homegrown player has agreed to join the New York Mets. Even so, the Blue Jays remain confident their offense can stay elite, largely because of designated hitter George Springer, who turned his career around last year.
The 36-year-old veteran owned career-high .309 batting average, .399 on-base percentage, .959 OPS, 32 home runs and 84 RBIs across 84 games. His production helped Toronto reach its first World Series since 1993, while he earned a Silver Slugger Award and finished seventh in American League MVP voting.
Springer's 161 OPS+ in 2025 was a career-high, as was his .309 batting average.
Because of his big year, Springer’s reputation across MLB has taken a noticeable upswing heading into 2026. Each winter, MLB Network unveils its Top 100 Player Rankings, a list that comes with a lot of anticipation.
After being left off the list entirely in 2025, Springer made one of the most significant jumps of any player, re‑entering at No. 47 overall. MLB highlighted his rise in a post on X, framing him as one of the league’s most intriguing veterans to watch this season.
Coincidentally, Bichette came in at No. 48 right behind Springer.
We’ve now entered the Top 50 on @MLBNetwork’s #Top100RightNow!
— MLB (@MLB) January 18, 2026
Roman Anthony comes in at No. 41 after an elite rookie season in Boston. pic.twitter.com/lwVyTdFjAC
The announcement captured the sense that Springer, entering the final year of his six‑year, $150 million contract, has positioned himself not only as a key contributor for Toronto but also as a player whose stock is once again trending upward across the league.
His focus is centered on helping the Blue Jays return to the World Series stage, and his track record in October makes that goal realistic.
Few players can match Springer’s reputation as a playoff performer. Over the course of his 12-year career, he has built an impressive body of work that speaks to both consistency and clutch ability.
Across 83 playoff games, the right-handed slugger has posted a .271 batting average, .346 on-base percentage, .880 OPS, 23 home runs and 48 RBIs.
He is a four‑time All‑Star, a three‑time Silver Slugger and the 2017 World Series MVP, when he powered the Houston Astros to a championship with a historic performance. That run cemented his status as one of the game’s most dangerous hitters under pressure.
Now entering his 13th MLB season in the spring, Springer’s veteran presence and championship pedigree provide Toronto with the leadership and firepower needed to chase another deep playoff run.
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