“George Springer (toe) has resumed swinging in the visitors’ batting cages in Milwaukee; taking flips and hitting off a tee for now. Running will be his biggest test. But it’s possible Springer’s ready to be activated from IL around beginning of Blue Jays homestand next Friday,” Arden Zwelling reported on X.

At the time of his injury, Springer was hitting .185 with two home runs and six RBIs, a slow start for a team currently sitting at 7-11 and in need of healthier pieces to turn things around.

Do the Blue Jays urgently need Springer?

So far, Springer’s absence hasn’t been the team’s biggest issue. His spot has been filled by Eloy Jimenez, Kazuma Okamoto, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. during the series against the Milwaukee Brewers, but the production has been minimal, just one hit and two walks combined.

The designated hitter position hasn’t been the primary concern for Toronto early in the 2026 season. The bigger issue is getting more consistent production across the lineup. While Springer brings veteran experience, the team’s depth chart has enough options to cover that role in the short term.

The hope is that once he returns, Springer can resemble his 2025 form, when he finished with a .309 batting average, 32 home runs, his third-best mark in that category, and 84 RBIs, production that made a clear impact.

The most jarring blow comes at the top of the lineup. Losing Springer to a toe fracture removes a veteran catalyst, while Kirk’s absence leaves a massive hole behind the plate. Management and John Schneider now face a daunting task as they determine who will step in during this stretch without one of their most important bats.

The pitching staff has been hit just as hard. José Berríos and Shane Bieber headline a growing list of unavailable arms, while the loss of high-leverage relievers like Yimi García and Bowden Francis forces others into uncomfortable roles.

The Blue Jays’ injured list

The injury bug hasn’t spared the organization’s future either, with names like Trey Yesavage and Cody Ponce adding to the total. When a team loses depth at both the Major League and Triple-A levels simultaneously, internal options quickly become dangerously thin.

• Alejandro Kirk
• George Springer
• Addison Barger
• Anthony Santander
• José Berríos
• Shane Bieber
• Cody Ponce
• Bowden Francis
• Trey Yesavage
• Yimi García

The key for Toronto will be staying steady despite the wave of injuries. Players like Barger didn’t have the best start this season, but last year, his second in the majors, he posted a solid .243 average and delivered three home runs in the postseason, raising expectations for what he could bring in 2026.

At least the Blue Jays still have some flexibility within their depth chart. They can turn to internal replacements and also rely on their Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons, to fill key gaps as needed.

Springer may not have been off to his best start, hitting just .185, but there was reason to believe he would improve. Now sidelined, he leaves the Blue Jays with two primary options. Alongside Guerrero Jr., Kazuma Okamoto is another name in the mix, having already hit two home runs for the team this season.

If the Blue Jays turn to Okamoto to fill Springer’s spot, they would be relying on a player who has had a slightly stronger start, posting a .220 average with a .651 OPS and three RBIs. However, he is also listed as a third base option on the depth chart, which complicates the decision for manager John Schneider.

Another option emerges as a potential replacement

While not yet official, another name has surfaced as a possible replacement. Dominican outfielder Eloy Jiménez was mentioned in a report by Mike Rodriguez, who wrote on X that this could be a unique opportunity for a player who hasn’t appeared in the majors in over a year and struggled in his last MLB stint.

“According to my sources, as reported to Rompiendo Sports, Eloy Jiménez has been called up to the Major Leagues to replace George Springer, who suffered an injury to one of his toes. The last time Jiménez played in MLB was in 2024,” Rodriguez wrote.

If Jiménez does get the opportunity with Toronto, the challenge will be helping him quickly adjust and contribute, especially given his time away from the majors. Still, his .269 career batting average could make him an appealing option for the team.

Speaking on the challenge of dealing with injuries, Schneider said: “We all signed up for this, and it’s not going to be easy. And I think if any team knows that, it’s us… we’ve been through a lot over the past couple years, and you have to take it as a challenge.”

Before taking the mound, the Japanese sensation took an extended period to prepare for his start. As Springer waited at the dish, he engaged in a heated-looking discussion with the home plate umpire.

While fans initially speculated that the Blue Jays veteran was frustrated with Ohtani’s delay, a prominent MLB insider has now shed light on what actually transpired.

“I was told by two people directly involved this morning that Springer was not complaining at all,” MLB insider Ken Rosenthal revealed. “George Springer was simply asking the home plate umpire for clarification that Shohei Ohtani indeed gets more time to warm up.”

With those details emerging, a situation that set social media ablaze appears to have been a simple misunderstanding. Regardless of the optics, the Blue Jays secured a much-needed win as they continue to navigate a roster decimated by a massive early-season injury list.

Dodgers’ manager weighed in

Despite the clarification that Springer wasn’t acting out of frustration, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also weighed in on the logistics surrounding his two-way superstar.

“Since the World Series, there have been comments around how much time Ohtani gets to ready himself to pitch after hitting,” Roberts told reporters. “But he’s been on the basepaths, so there should be some grace, which I think the umpires try to give him. If you’re on the other side, of course, you’d want to rush it.“

Roberts’ comments only added fuel to the fire on social media, where fans continue to debate whether the league offers Ohtani or the Dodgers preferential treatment. Controversy aside, the reality remains that the Blue Jays walked away with the win.

It was tough to watch Springer on the ground. Fortunately, he was able to get up, but he ultimately had to exit the game after trying to go to first base, as reported by RJ Anderson of CBS, marking a significant loss for the Blue Jays.

“Springer initially tried to stay in the game, but after heading to first base he retreated to the dugout, all the while visibly limping,“ Anderson wrote in his CBS article. “Springer was replaced by fellow outfielder Joey Loperfido, who was only added to the roster on Thursday, replacing injured outfielder Anthony Santander.”

Pitch velocity and Fan reaction

The pitch from Woo that struck Springer was clocked at 95.6 mph, a dangerous velocity to hit any exposed area, particularly the knee, which lacks muscular protection.

One of the most unfortunate spectacles seen and heard at the ballpark after Woo hit Springer was the Mariners fans reportedly cheering, as noted by both SleeperAstros and Jenn Smith, a writer who frequently covers the Blue Jays.

“Poor sportsmanship by Mariners fans booing George Springer when their pitcher Bryan Woo hit him on the kneecap. Regardless of which side you’re on – it is wrong,” wrote Rebecca Yu, a Blue Jays fan.

George Springer has been playing with the Toronto Blue Jays since the 2021 MLB season when he signed a six-year $150m contract with them. He is one of the top players on the team but a couple of injuries kept Springer from showing his talent last season.

Another team that will not have players in the starting lineup is the Houston Astros (Springer’s ex-team), it is unfortunate but the managers did not choose any of the Astros’ to play as starters. Anyway, the All-Star game will be worth watching.

Why is George Springer not playing in the 2022 MLB All-Star Game?

Springer will not be in the MLB All-Star Game because he decided to rest his elbow. He was in the group of four Jay’s players who were called to play in the All-Star Game. Aside from Springer, Santiago Espinal will play for the American League team to replace Jose Altuve.

So far most of the announced players will be available in the 2022 MLB All-Star Game, with some exceptions due to injuries such as Mike Trout who will not be available as he is recovering from a back injury

The outfielder declined the $18.9 million qualifying offer the Houston Astros made him a couple of months ago and he’s one of the most clutch and provenplayers in the world, meaning he’s looking for a way more lucrative deal.

That could be tricky right now given the context of the pandemic and how most teams are wary of spending a lot of money. Then again, he’s still got a couple of suitors lining up to offer him a big paycheck.

Blue Jays, Mets Lead The Race For George Springer

According to a report by Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets are currently leading the race for Springer’s services and he could make a decision as soon as this week:

“George Springer’s free agent decision could come this week, multiple industry sources believe. The #BlueJays and #Mets are the two frontrunners as of today,” Morosi tweeted.

Apparently, the Blue Jays and Mets are the only two ball clubs that would be willing to make a big investment right now, and with J.T. Realmuto, DJ LeMahieu, and Trevor Bauer reportedly off the table, Springer could be their most desired asset in the offseason.

Then again, MLB.com reports that the Blue Jays could have a slight advantage in Springers’sweepstakes, as the New York Mets don’t want to get over thecompetitive balance tax (CBT), which is complicated after already landing Carlos Carrasco and Francisco Lindor.

The Blue Jays have struck out on most of their offseason targets right now and they’d have to part ways with a draft pick to sign Springer, but the reports statethat they’re willing to offer him 9 figures if that’s what it takes to take him up north.

Needless to say, that will be easier said than done considering how many great and competitive teams we see in the league right now. Then again, most of them will be wary of spending too much due to the pandemic.

That’s when Cohen must sweep in and make the most of the chance of landing a top-tier player at a discount. However, it seems like the newest team owner in MLB won’t settle for one, two, or even three stars, as he’s reportedly trying to sign four top-notch guys right now.

MLB Rumors: New York Mets To Pursue Bauer, Lindor, Springer, And Realmuto

According to The Athletic and MLB.com, Cohen and the Mets are ready to make a run at Trevor Bauer, Francisco Lindor, George Springer, and JT Realmuto, which are pretty much four of the most sought-after players in the league right now.

And, while their names weren’t brought up in the report, some believe that they could pursue a trade for Carlos Correa – who’s reportedly going to be moved – or lure AL batting champion DJ LeMahieu away from the New York Yankees.

It goes without saying that, should the Mets land at least two of those four stars, they should instantly become a legit contender, especially considering that they already feature one of the strongest rotations in the world.

This is the perfect time for Steve Cohen to make a statement and prove that he’s for real, and God knows that Mets fans have been through enough already. It’s time to compete at the highest level again.