Springer back in old ballpark
Walking into Minute Maid Park on Friday, the ballpark he called home for seven years, George
Springer felt lost. Literally. “I’ve never been to the away side. I didn’t know where to go when I got here today,” said Springer, the Astros’ 2017 World Series MVP who now is an outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays. “But it’s pretty cool, I guess. I wish I was able to play and help the team, but it is what it is.”
Springer, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a right quad strain, won’t play in this weekend’s three-game series against the Astros, his first time facing his former team. But he did get to reunite with some of the Astros, including Michael Brantley and Alex Bregman, on the field before Friday’s game.
“I grew up with all of them,” Springer said.
“We talk all the time, almost daily,” Brantley said. “He’s a great friend of mine, and it’s always good to see good friends and just catching up.”
They shared a plethora of memories in Houston, where Springer was drafted in 2011, made his major league debut in 2014 and became a fan favorite and the face of the Astros’ 2017 World Series title.
Springer’s name still is etched in the Astros record books. He ranks fifth on the franchise’s all-time home run list with 174 in seven seasons and ranks sixth in career slugging percentage (.491).
“You can talk about all the accomplishments he did on the field, but also, you know, in the locker room as well and how he impacted so many teammates,” Brantley said. “So there’s not just one story that’s going to define George Springer. We all know that around here. So, once again, he’s missed, but at the same time, we wish him all the best.”
Springer left the Astros in January when he signed a six-year, $150 million deal with the Blue Jays — the most expensive offseason acquisition in franchise history. He made his Blue Jays debut April 28 but has played just four games, all as designated hitter, while combating oblique and quad injuries he sustained during spring training. Although his current stint on the injured list is set to end May 13, he is expected to be absent longer.
“I’m extremely frustrated,” Springer said. “I want to play, so I need to do what I need to do to get this thing right. I want to help any way that I can even though I can’t physically play the game. I just want to be around the guys.”
Arriving at Minute Maid Park as a member of the Blue Jays was “definitely weird,” Springer said, but he was reminded of the relationships he cultivated during his time with the Astros.
“Just the friendships that I developed, from Eddie at the front gate to the clubhouse attendants,” he said. “There’s a lot of people here who were great to me and my family, and I’ll always be thankful for that.”
Although he’ll be watching from the visitors dugout on Friday, Springer said he is prepared for a warm reception from Astros fans.
“It’ll be emotional for sure,” he said. “Obviously, this is the place where I got an opportunity to play and got an opportunity to grow as a big leaguer, a person, and the fans will always have a very, very special place in my heart here. Again, they were great to me, were great to my family and I’ll always be thankful to the fans here for sure.”
Hinojosa and Siri lead Skeeters’ win
Jose Siri hit a gametying three-run home run in the fourth inning, the first of 10 unanswered runs as the Sugar Land Skeeters beat the Albuquerque Isotopes 10-3 Friday night in Albuquerque, N.M.
Siri added an RBI double in the eighth and went 3-for-5. He then came around on a two-RBI double by Klein Collins alumnus and former Texas player C.J. Hinojosa. Tyler Ivey gave up three runs on four hits, walking four while striking out seven over 42⁄3 innings. Seth Martinez struck out five over 21⁄3 innings for the win.