George Springer

Last updated

"It took a lot of courage. This didn’t happen overnight. It was hard work, most of which, quite frankly, George did. We were there to guide, assist, coach, and support, but he was the one who had to be comfortable in his own skin. He was the one that had to adopt all the techniques. I give him all the credit."

— Springer's father, George Springer Jr., on overcoming his stutter [22]

As a child, Springer attended New Britain Rock Cats games. His favorite baseball player was Torii Hunter, with whom he played catch at eight years old. [2] He also grew up a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan. [58]

Springer has a stutter. [2] He said that it was only after his promotion to the major leagues that he began to accept himself and develop new techniques to help him talk. [22] He began to perform charity work as a spokesperson for the Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY) while in Houston, which included hosting an annual bowling benefit among other things. He has continued his work for SAY north of the border since joining the Blue Jays. [59] [60] Springer has participated in a baseball clinic hosted by Matt Barnes at the Newtown, Connecticut, Youth Academy for elementary school students in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. [61] Writer Jesse Sanchez wrote an article for MLB.com about Springer helping Sanchez's son, Mateo Sanchez, with the boy's own stutter. [62]

“I wished that there was someone when I was a kid who could make stuttering cool. Then one day, when I wasn’t a kid anymore, I saw this really amazing person on television. He was cool, he was a great athlete and he stuttered just like me, just like the hundreds and thousands of friends I have who stutter. He owned it. He didn’t shy away from saying what he wanted to say. He was just himself. He did what I had never seen anyone do before him. He made stuttering cool.”

— Taro Alexander, founder of Stuttering Association for the Young, on George Springer. [63]


On January 20, 2018, Springer married Charlise Castro, who played softball for the Albany Great Danes at the University at Albany. [64] They have two children. A son, George Chelston Springer IV, was born in 2018. Their second child was born in July 2023. [65]

In March 2020, Springer donated $100,000 to Minute Maid Park employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. [66]

Springer was placed on MLB paternity leave on July 8, 2023, in anticipation of the birth of his second child. [67]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Ríos</span> American baseball player (born 1981)

Alexis Israel Ríos is an American former professional baseball right fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, and Kansas City Royals. A World Series champion with the Royals in 2015, Rios is a two-time MLB All-Star. In 2007, he was a Fielding Bible Award winner for right fielders. In 2013, he hit for the cycle and achieved six hits in one game. Rios is a three-time World Baseball Classic participant with the Puerto Rico national baseball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuli Gurriel</span> Cuban baseball player (born 1984)

Yulieski Gourriel Castillo, commonly known as Yuli Gurriel and nicknamed "La Piña", is a Cuban professional baseball first baseman and third baseman who is a free agent. He has previously played for Sancti Spiritus in the Cuban National Series (CNS), the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), and the Houston Astros, Miami Marlins and Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). Gurriel is a former member of Cuba's national team, and an Olympic Games gold medalist in 2004. A versatile infielder, he has also played shortstop andsecond base in the major leagues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nori Aoki</span> Japanese baseball player (born 1982)

Norichika "Nori" Aoki is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Mets, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colby Rasmus</span> American baseball player (born 1986)

Colby Ryan Rasmus is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles. He has also played for the United States national baseball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Francisco</span> American baseball player (born 1981)

Louis Benjamin Francisco, is an American former professional baseball outfielder, who is currently a major league scout for the Los Angeles Angels. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays, and New York Yankees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Pearce (baseball)</span> American baseball player (born 1983)

Steven Wayne Pearce is an American former professional baseball left fielder and first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox. Pearce is only the second player in MLB history to have played for every team in the American League East, the first being Kelly Johnson. He is also the first and only player to have hit two walk-off grand slams in the span of a single week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dexter Fowler</span> American baseball player (born 1986)

William Dexter Fowler is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, and Los Angeles Angels. He participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics as a member of the United States national baseball team and won the World Series with the Cubs in 2016. He led all MLB players with 72 triples during the 2010s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Dominguez (baseball)</span> American baseball player (born 1989)

Matthew Scott Dominguez is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins, Houston Astros, and Toronto Blue Jays and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chiba Lotte Marines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jose Altuve</span> Venezuelan baseball player (born 1990)

Jose Carlos Altuve is a Venezuelan professional baseball second baseman for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). Having played for the Astros since 2011, he is the longest-tenured current member of the team, and the only one to have been with the Astros since they were in the National League. Altuve is widely regarded as one of the greatest Astros in franchise history, and one of the best second basemen of all time. On the international stage, he has represented the Venezuelan national team in the 2017 and 2023 World Baseball Classics (WBC). His .306 career batting average is the highest of any active player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marwin González</span> Venezuelan baseball player (born 1989)

Marwin Javier González is a Venezuelan former professional baseball utility player. González was signed as an international free agent by the Chicago Cubs in 2005. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2012. He has played 11 seasons in MLB for the Houston Astros, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees during which he helped the Astros win a World Series in 2017. González has appeared at every position in MLB except for catcher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aledmys Díaz</span> Cuban baseball player (born 1990)

Aledmys Díaz Serrano is a Cuban professional baseball utility player who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, and Oakland Athletics. He played for the Naranjas de Villa Clara in the Cuban National Series from 2007 through 2012, before defecting to the United States. Díaz signed with the Cardinals in 2014, and made his MLB debut with them in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derek Fisher (baseball)</span> American baseball player (born 1993)

Derek Joseph Fisher is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, and Milwaukee Brewers. He attended the University of Virginia, where he played college baseball for the Virginia Cavaliers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Kansas City Royals season</span> 47th Season of the Kansas City Royals

The 2015 Kansas City Royals season was the 47th for the franchise, and their 43rd at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals made their second consecutive World Series appearance in 2015, after winning the American League in 2014. They won the series for the first time since 1985. The team won their first AL Central title on September 24, 2015, the first time the Royals won their division since 1985. They opened the playoffs by defeating the Houston Astros in five games in the ALDS and then defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in six games in the ALCS. They defeated the New York Mets in five games in the World Series, the second World Series championship in franchise history. The 2015 Royals were the first team since the 1989 Oakland Athletics to win the World Series after having lost the series in the previous season. This would not happen again until the 2022 Houston Astros would accomplish this feat. This would be the last season the Royals would make the playoffs until 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teoscar Hernández</span> Dominican baseball player (born 1992)

Teoscar José Hernández is a Dominican professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Hernández has won two Silver Slugger Awards and was an All-Star in 2021 and 2024. Hernández signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers in 2024 and later won the World Series with the team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trey Mancini</span> American baseball player (born 1992)

Joseph Anthony "Trey" Mancini III is an American professional baseball first baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, and Chicago Cubs. His nickname "Boomer", originally "Boom Boom" after Ray Mancini, morphed into its current form when he enrolled at the University of Notre Dame. The Orioles selected Mancini in the eighth round of the 2013 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2016 with the Orioles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 American League Division Series</span>

The 2015 American League Division Series were two best-of-five-game series in Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 2015 postseason to determine the participating teams in the 2015 American League Championship Series. The three divisional winners and a fourth team—the winner of a one-game Wild Card playoff— played in two series. Fox Sports 1 carried the majority of games in the United States, while Sportsnet primarily simulcast Fox Sports 1's coverage in Canada. MLB Network had exclusive coverage of Game 3 of the Kansas City Royals–Houston Astros series in both the United States and Canada, and Game 2 of the Toronto Blue Jays–Texas Rangers series in the U.S. only. The ALDS began on October 8 and ran until October 14. The Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals had home field advantage in this round of the playoffs. With the New York Yankees being eliminated by the Astros in the AL Wild Card Game, this is the first time in ALDS history that all four ALDS teams were expansion teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Houston Astros season</span> Major League Baseball season

The 2017 Houston Astros season was the team's 56th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas, their 53rd as the Astros, fifth in both the American League and American League West, and 18th at Minute Maid Park. The Astros won the World Series in seven games over the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first World Series championship in franchise history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mauricio Dubón</span> Honduran baseball player (born 1994)

Mauricio Andre Dubón is a Honduran professional baseball utility player for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). Selected during the 26th round of the 2013 MLB draft by the Boston Red Sox, Dubón made his MLB debut with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019, and has also played for the San Francisco Giants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 American League Division Series</span>

The 2017 American League Division Series were two best-of-five-games series held in Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 2017 postseason to determine the participating teams in the 2017 American League Championship Series. The three divisional winners and a fourth team—the winner of a one-game Wild Card playoff—played in two series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yordan Alvarez</span> Cuban baseball player (born 1997)

Yordan Ruben Alvarez is a Cuban professional baseball designated hitter and left fielder for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2019 for the Astros. Alvarez stands 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m), weighs 237 pounds (108 kg), bats left-handed and throws right-handed. He is a three-time All-Star.

References

  1. ↑ "Most Home Runs By A Player In A Single World Series". StatMuse . Archived from the original on November 4, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Verducci, Tom (August 3, 2017). "George Springer went from a quiet kid to the heart of the Astros". Sports Illustrated . No. August 7, 2017. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Old Farms' Springer Is Old School – Hartford Courant". Articles.courant.com. May 12, 2008. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  4. ↑ Borges, David (August 19, 2013). "MLB ALL-STAR GAME: Locals recall Matt Harvey's high school days at Fitch – Sports – The Bulletin". Milford-Orange Bulletin. Archived from the original on August 21, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Springer getting attention from scouts – Sports – The UConn Daily Campus – University of Connecticut". Dailycampus.com. April 24, 2011. Archived from the original on April 16, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Springer Tagged as Baseball America Freshman All-American – UCONNHUSKIES.COM – The Official Website of the University of Connecticut Huskies". Uconnhuskies.Com. June 30, 2009. Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 "George Springer By The Numbers". Hartford Courant. April 21, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  9. ↑ "2009 Wareham Gatemen". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  10. ↑ Paxton, William S. (May 25, 2011). "Barnes has MLB potential but one goal – UConn championships". GreenwichTime. Archived from the original on April 16, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  11. 1 2 "Player Bio: George Springer — University of Connecticut Official Athletics Site". Archived from the original on December 30, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
  12. 1 2 "Former UConn Outfielder George Springer Takes On Houston – Hartford Courant". Articles.courant.com. August 19, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  13. 1 2 Gwizdala, Mike (April 16, 2014). "Former ValleyCat Springer called up to Houston Astros". timesunion.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  14. ↑ "2012 Prospect Watch | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. May 24, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Ultimate Astros » Astros prospect George Springer reaches 30–30 club". Blog.chron.com. August 10, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  16. 1 2 "1. George Springer was the Texas League Player of the Year in 2013... Photo-photo.83979 – Houston Chronicle". Chron.com. April 17, 2014. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Futures Game gives Astros' prospects taste of Majors". MLB.com. July 14, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  18. ↑ "USA TODAY's Minor League Player of the Year". USA Today .
  19. ↑ Axisa, Mike. "George Springer rejects seven-year, $23 million offer from Astros". CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  20. ↑ Drellich, Evan (April 15, 2014). "George Springer gets the call he's been waiting for". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  21. ↑ De Jesus Ortiz, Jose (September 16, 2014). "George Springer to sit rest of season". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wagner, James (November 2, 2017). "Astros' George Springer, the Series M.V.P., Has Come a Long Way". The New York Times . Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  23. 1 2 "Jose Altuve, Nolan Arenado among repeat Silver Slugger Award winners". USA Today. November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Astros return from All-Star break on the heels of record-setting first half as top team in the league". MLB.com. July 13, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  25. ↑ Horrobin, Jordan (July 28, 2017). "George Springer placed on 10-day DL (quad injury)". MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  26. ↑ Clair, Michael (September 29, 2017). "George Springer's first-grade teacher came to see him play and she brought cookies". MLB.com. Retrieved September 29, 2017.
  27. ↑ Justice, Richard (October 26, 2017). "Astros, Dodgers author a classic Fall Classic: Houston evens World Series at 1–1 in Game 2 thriller filled with wild moments". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 30, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  28. ↑ Castrovince, Anthony (November 2, 2017). "Springer swats his way to MVP honors". MLB.com. Archived from the original on January 9, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  29. ↑ McTaggart, Brian; Gurnick, Ken (November 2, 2017). "Houston Astros win 2017 World Series". MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  30. ↑ Berg, Ted (June 25, 2014). "Sports Illustrated cover declares Houston Astros '2017 World Series champs'". USA Today For the Win. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  31. ↑ Rosenthal, Ken; Drellich, Evan. "The Astros stole signs electronically in 2017 — part of a much broader issue for Major League Baseball". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  32. ↑ Goldman, Tom (February 26, 2020). "How Baseball's Code Of Silence Figured Into Astros' Sign-Stealing Case". NPR. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Mike Wilner: The stain will stay with George Springer and the 2017 Houston Astros". Toronto Star . February 26, 2021.
  34. ↑ Crasnick, Jerry (March 30, 2018). "Astros' George Springer hits leadoff HR for second straight Opening Day". ESPN . Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  35. ↑ "2018 All-Star Game Box Score, July 17". Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  36. ↑ "Astros outfielder George Springer to DL with thumb injury". ESPN.com. August 6, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  37. ↑ Footer, Alyson (October 8, 2018). "George Springer hits 2 ALDS Game 3 homers". MLB.com. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  38. ↑ Ennis, Dawn (May 1, 2019). "Exclusive: Astros' George Springer punished by MLB for anti-gay slur directed at umpire". Outsports.com. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  39. ↑ "Springer place on 10-day IL with left hamstring injury". washingtonpost.com. May 25, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2019.[ dead link ]
  40. ↑ Madigan, Dan (June 28, 2019). "UConn Baseball: George Springer named 2019 American League All-Star Game Starter". SB Nation–The UConn Blog. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  41. ↑ "George Springer stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  42. ↑ "George Springer Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  43. ↑ Matheson, Keegan (January 23, 2021). "Springer, Blue Jays finalize 6-year deal". MLB.com. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  44. ↑ "George Springer makes Blue Jays debut". National Post . April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  45. ↑ "Springer to IL again with quad strain". mlb.com. May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  46. ↑ Young, Matt (April 27, 2021). "George Springer still not ready to make Blue Jays debut". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  47. ↑ "Springer back from quad strain, feels 'great'". mlb.com. June 22, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  48. ↑ "Joey Votto, George Springer named Players of the Week presented by Chevrolet". mlb.com.
  49. ↑ "George Springer, C.J. Cron named Players of the Week presented by Chevrolet". mlb.com.
  50. ↑ "Springer's injury sends Blue Jays reeling". mlb.com. August 14, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  51. ↑ "Blue Jays hope George Springer's return sparks a September to remember". thestar.com. August 30, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  52. ↑ "Blue Jays CF Springer carted off field after scary collision". AP News. October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  53. ↑ "Blue Jays' unpredictability their downfall as Mariners win to sweep wild-card series". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  54. ↑ "George Springer 2023 Batting Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  55. ↑ Wilner, Mike (May 14, 2024). "Mike Wilner: Davis Schneider is the hitter the Blue Jays need in the leadoff spot". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  56. ↑ Chisholm, Gregor (May 27, 2024). "Gregor Chisholm: The Blue Jays are in no position to give up on George Springer. The seven hole might be his permanent home". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  57. 1 2 Hawbecker, Olivia (June 14, 2016). "Meet the Springers". Little League. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  58. ↑ Kurkjian, Adam (May 13, 2016). "Overdue homecoming for George Springer". Boston Herald. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  59. ↑ Matheson, Keegan (June 3, 2024). "George Springer hosts bowling night for Stuttering Association for the Young". MLB.com. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  60. ↑ "Springer's performance has Astros on brink of World Series crown". Fox Sports . Associated Press. October 30, 2017. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  61. ↑ Healey, Tim (December 1, 2014). "Barnes' baseball clinic benefits Newtown youth: Red Sox prospect started the event following Sandy Hook tragedy". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  62. ↑ "How a big league star changed my son's life". MLB.com. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  63. ↑ "'You can say what you want to say': Springer inspiring kids who stutter". MLB.com .
  64. ↑ Ortega, Francisca (January 21, 2018). "Astros outfielder George Springer marries Charlise Castro". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  65. ↑ Morosi, Jon Paul (July 15, 2022). "In George Springer's family, generations of impact comes from a single name". NBC Sports . Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  66. ↑ Rome, Chandler (March 14, 2020). "Astros' George Springer donates $100K to Minute Maid Park employees". Chron.com. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  67. ↑ "Blue Jays' George Springer: Placed on paternity list". CBSSports.com. July 8, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
George Springer
George Springer in 2017 (36077792615).jpg
Springer with the Houston Astros in 2017
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 4
Outfielder
Born: (1989-09-19) September 19, 1989 (age 35)
New Britain, Connecticut, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 16, 2014, for the Houston Astros
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Hickok Belt monthly award
November 2017		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.