George Springer’s first Spring Training homer lifts Blue Jays

When George Springer, a 36‑year‑old right fielder and designated hitter for the Toronto Blue Jays, lined a home run on March 1, 2024, the crowd at TD Ballpark erupted in a way that felt like a movie payoff. The swing came during a Spring Training gameTD Ballpark against the Philadelphia Phillies, sending the ball over the left‑field wall and giving the Jays an 11‑7 win. It wasn’t just a tally on the scoreboard; it was the “ultimate relief” Springer said he’d been craving after a camp where “the numbers simply haven’t been there.”

Background to the 2024 Spring Training

Toronto’s Grapefruit League schedule this year started with a string of low‑scoring affairs, leaving fans and front‑office brass nervous. The Blue Jays, under manager John Schneider, were looking to iron out timing issues ahead of a regular‑season kickoff slated for March 28, 2024. New hitting coach David Popkins was hired in the offseason after a stint with the St. Louis Cardinals’ Triple‑A affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds, and he’d promised a “fresh approach” to swing mechanics.

Springer entered the spring slate with a .189 batting average (7‑for‑37) and no long balls in eight games. By contrast, he’d posted a .309 clip with 32 homers during the 2023 regular season, a performance that helped Toronto finish second in the AL East. The gap between those numbers was the story everyone was watching.

Springer’s slump and the long‑awaited homer

On the morning of March 1, the right‑handed slugger seemed almost nervous at the plate. “I was feeling the weight of the expectations,” he told reporters after the game. “If you have to make adjustments, that’s the name of the game, but at this point it’s good to see what I’ve been doing and that whole process slowly unfold.” His words rang true: a quick adjustment on a Friday‑night swing sent the ball sailing past the fence.

That moment mattered beyond the stat line. General manager Ross Atkins had emphasized in the offseason that Springer’s health and production were pivotal to Toronto’s championship hopes for 2024. With a $25 million salary on the books for the season, the Blue Jays needed every ounce of his 220‑pound power.

Celebration on the field

As Springer rounded the bases, teammates flooded the dirt. Catcher Alejandro Kirk and outfielder Anthony Santander slapped high‑fives that looked like a flash‑mob. Then came a quick dance with first‑base star Vladimir Guerrero Jr., whose grin was as wide as the Florida sky.

Before heading back to the dugout, Springer thrust his arms up for the fans crowded behind the bench, then paraded up and down the “runway” of his teammates. The final touch was a hug from Popkins and a heavy high‑five from Schneider, who shouted, “That’s the kind of energy we need every day.”

Implications for the Blue Jays’ season

The homer did more than spark a win; it gave the clubhouse a morale boost that could ripple through the grueling 162‑game schedule. Analysts note that a player who regains confidence early often translates that vibe into better plate discipline and clutch hitting later on. For Toronto, whose bullpen has been a question mark, a hot slugger in the middle of the order could relieve pressure on the late‑inning relievers.

Statistically, Springer’s career OPS (on‑base plus slugging) sits at .964, and his spring training numbers this year are still a work in progress. Yet the psychological lift from that swing may be the missing puzzle piece for a team that hopes to dethrone the reigning World Series champs.

What’s next for Springer and Toronto

The next few weeks will test whether that burst of confidence sticks. Springer is slated to face the Houston Astros in a series that pits him against his former club, a matchup that could be a litmus test for his adjustments under Popkins’ guidance.

Meanwhile, Schneider and Atkins will continue to fine‑tune the lineup, possibly shuffling the batting order to maximize Springer’s left‑handed power against right‑handed pitching. If the Blue Jays can keep the momentum rolling, they might be the surprise contender the AL East didn’t see coming.

• March 1, 2024 – Springer’s first Spring Training home run.
• .189 average through eight games before the homer.
• Toronto leads the Grapefruit League with a 5‑3 record after the win.
• Springer’s 2023 stats: .309 AVG, 32 HR, .959 OPS.
• Contract: sixth year of a $150 million deal, $25 million salary for 2024.