DUNEDIN \u2013 His spot at the top of the batting order no longer secure and his statistics trending downward, George Springer has plenty to prove as he enters the penultimate season of his six-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.<\/p>\n
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Manager John Schneider plans to give the veteran right-fielder some reps in left field this season and says the leadoff spot will likely be \u201ca fluid situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s open to anything and everything, which is awesome,\u201d Schneider said. \u201cSo it\u2019s just trying to use him appropriately.\u201d<\/p>\n
Springer, 35, posted strong numbers in his first year with Toronto \u2014 an injury-riddled 2021 season \u2014 but his statistics have been on a steady decline since.<\/p>\n
He hit .267 with 25 homers and 76 RBIs over 133 games in 2022. A year later, he played in 154 games and hit .258 with 21 homers and 72 RBIs.<\/p>\n
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The four-time all-star endured a terrible first half last season. He was able to pull his numbers up but still hit just .220 over 145 games with 19 homers and 56 RBIs.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously I did not do what I had hoped to do last year,\u201d Springer said. \u201cI understand that, I accept that, I acknowledge that. I think a lot of it is just understanding what went wrong, how it wrong and understanding how to get yourself out of it slowly but surely.\u201d<\/p>\n
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