Blue Jays reinstate George Springer, option hot-hitting Joey Loperfido

New York Times

2 hours ago

TORONTO — One of baseball's best comeback stories can now continue. George Springer missed the Toronto Blue Jays' past 16 games after suffering a concussion when he was struck by a pitch before the trade deadline. He'd been among the team's best hitters this year and set a standard for the team's focus on small advantages and baserunning fundamentals. Now he's back. The Jays activated Springer ahead of Saturday's contest against the Texas Rangers, optioning outfielder Joey Loperfido to make room on the roster.
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'The last couple of days,' manager John Schneider said, 'he was really champing at the bit to get back here.'
A year after posting the lowest WAR of his career and hitting .220, the 35-year-old Springer is in the midst of a career renaissance. He's hitting the ball harder, on average, than ever before and sits behind just Vladimir Guerrero Jr. among qualified Jays players in OPS (.893).
Toronto went 9-7 in Springer's absence. They scored 45 runs across three games in Colorado, but averaged just 3.6 in the other 13 contests. Injecting Springer, who hit a homer in his final rehab contest on Friday, back into the lineup should boost the team's offensive potential. He's moving back to the leadoff spot for his first game back, though Schneider said the lineup will remain fluid moving forward.
'He's just a guy who's really good at playing baseball and really good at hitting,' hitting coach David Popkins said. 'And a smart hitter. He's one of a kind. He's one of the best outfield hitters ever.'
The Jays missed Springer on the basepaths and in the clubhouse as well, Schneider said. They've dipped back into the league's bottom third in team baserunning in recent weeks. They are also the worst fielding team in baseball since his injury, per Statcast. Springer grades out as one of the team's top baserunners this year. He may not directly help Toronto's fielding, often playing as the team's designated hitter, but he's long been a loud voice in Toronto's clubhouse. It's even easier to lead and motivate others when you're posting numbers, Schneider said.
'George is a big part of it,' Schneider said. 'Both on the bases and at the plate. So trying to just kind of clean those things up.'
The Jays faced a difficult decision upon Springer's return, with no obvious candidate for demotion. Loperfido was ultimately optioned back to Triple A, despite hitting .358 in 30 big-league contests. Schneider called the demotion 'undeserved.' It's unlikely the end of Loperfido's major-league season, though, as he could return as an injury replacement soon or join the team again in September, when rosters expand.
'I can't guarantee that he's coming back in September,' Schneider said. 'But I think it's a pretty strong likelihood if everything stays status quo.'
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