The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Former Husky Springer happy to be closer to home
The next chapter of George Springer’s baseball career is officially underway.
The Connecticut grown All-Star and World Series Champion signed a six year $150 million deal with the Blue Jays, bringing him closer to home after seven seasons in Houston.
“We play in the A.L. East, which is pretty close to home,” Springer said during his introductory press conference Wednesday. “At the end of the day, I wanted to go to where I believed I was going to be happy.”
Springer, who grew up in New Britain before starring at Avon Old Farms and UConn will now be competing closer to home with multiples stops at Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium. He said he has relocated to Avon during the offseason.
“I’m excited for him and his family,” UConn baseball coach Jim Penders said. “There are a lot of drives that can be made in the A.L. East to see him a little more easily. We’re thrilled as a program because we are going to get to see him more.”
The signing was especially significant for the UConn baseball program. Springer is one of three former UConn standouts on the Blue Jays’ payroll.
Springer will join pitcher Anthony Kay, who made his big-league debut in 2019 and pitching coach Pete Walker, who was UConn’s ace during the 1990 season.
“We’re going to have potentially three Huskies in that Toronto dugout,” Penders said.
Springer, who has a .270 career average with 174 home runs and 458 RBIs in seven seasons, has continued to keep in touch with his college coach throughout his professional career, visiting UConn annually to check in on Penders and his team.
“He’s come up a bunch of times, usually once a season at least,” Penders said. “But it’s a shorter turnaround now, we’ve got him back in Connecticut and I know he is excited about hitting in our new facility this offseason.”
At 31, Springer is projected to leadoff for a Toronto team that made the postseason (due to expansion) and boasted a winning record for the first time since 2016.
“He’s joining a team that is obviously very serious about winning and winning now,” Penders said. “That’s what George has always been about. He’s always been part of winners, and if he isn’t part of one he’s going to build one.”
Toronto’s current position is comparable to that of the 2015 Houston Astros, who after seven losing seasons began to turn things around in large part due to a young core.
Now seven years later, Springer will play the role of mentor for the young Toronto core consisting of youngsters like Bo Bichette, Vlad Guerrero Jr., and Cavan Biggio.
“This lineup reminds me a lot of them,” Springer said. “It is a young lineup but it’s a very talented, advanced younger lineup. From everything I’ve seen, they’re very, very ambitious. They want to win, they work hard. That’s awesome to see.
“I think they’re right
there,” Springer said. “When you play against this team like I have, you could see the talent, could see the potential in their lineup, in their staff, in their arms. I think this team is built to win, and I think they’re going to be built to win for a long time.”
Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro boasted about Springer’s experience and leadership, saying “his experience will add a certain level of wisdom to our players.”
Penders is confident Springer’s success will rub off on his new teammates.
“He has always led by example with his work ethic and his energy,” Penders said. “He is a dynamic player, but also a dynamic personality. I know those young hitters are going to learn a lot from him.”