Blue Jays fans are going to have to get used to the new George Springer

It’s been a whirlwind of a season for George Springer just over halfway through his six-year, $150M contract. He was the worst qualified hitter in baseball earlier this season which consequently saw him moved from his preferred lead off spot yet has still managed to produce moments of magic. It’s fair to say he’s been inconsistent and frustrating to watch this season.

Heading into the season, fans didn’t know what to expect from Springer. Last year, he played the most games he’s played since 2016 making the full-time switch to right field, however his OPS, slugging and on-base percentage numbers were the lowest of his career.

This year, those numbers have continued on a downward trajectory and according to Baseball Savant, Springer is ranked in the 23rd percentile for average exit velocity also at a career low. On June 25, Springer was batting .188 with a .559 OPS, since then he’s batted .264 and an .860 OPS in 46 games. In the midst of a ‘lost’ season for the Blue Jays, he’s second on the team in home runs adding two to his tally in Tuesday night’s blowout win against Cincinnati and second on the team in RBI.

Springer’s splits highlight his inconsistencies this season. His best month so far was July when he batted .274 with an .874 OPS and five home runs but so far in August he’s batted just .191 with four homers (three of which have come in the past two days), nine RBI and a .669 OPS.

He’s failed to hit above .230 in any month except for July and he’s struggled mightily against left hand-pitching batting .188 compared to .233 against righties. Springer isn’t getting any younger he’ll be turning 35 soon; in addition to that he still has two years and $48M remaining on his contract, which makes it even harder for Toronto to shift him.

For the time being he is Toronto’s go-to player at the top of the lineup largely due to Davis Schneider's recent struggles, yet it’s not a guarantee he’ll be in that spot next season. Overall, despite Springer’s good sprint speed and he’s on pace for 21 home runs his numbers remain streaky. Perhaps this is the version of their star veteran that Blue Jays fans will have to get used to in the next two years.