Blue Jays insist George Springer is on schedule — his schedule — for opening day

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This article was published 20/03/2022 (1629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DUNEDIN, Fla.—Call it load management, spring training style.

George Springer has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game, but the Blue Jays insist all is well with their star centre-fielder. They’re simply operating off his preferred schedule to get ready for opening day.

Springer made the short 10-minute drive from the Jays’ player development complex to TD Ballpark on Sunday afternoon where his teammates were getting ready for what turned into 10-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he wasn’t there to play, he was there to take batting practice.

While Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said he expects to write Springer’s name into the lineup soon, he didn’t have a specific date for when it would happen. Springer continues to work at the complex and will inform the club when he’s ready to go.

“I swear to God, he’s fine, he’s 100 per cent,” Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said prior to Sunday’s game. “He knows what he’s doing. We’re going to communicate with the players and see how they feel. He has been getting a lot of at-bats down there, a lot of live batting practices, and he might get more today. He’ll play soon. Just not today or tomorrow.”

Springer’s absence Sunday was a bit more noteworthy than usual because it was the Jays’ spring home opener and Sportsnet’s first in-house broadcast of the year. The plan, though, isn’t that strange, given the abbreviated nature of camp. Cavan Biggio has yet to play a game, and a slew of Jays made their spring debuts against the Pirates, among them Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Randal Grichuk and Matt Chapman.

With Springer, though, there’s another layer of intrigue. The 32-year-old is coming off an injury-plagued season that saw him miss the start of the year with oblique and quad injuries. He had a knee issue later in the year.

“I want to get as prepared as I possibly can, understanding that April 8 is the goal,” said Springer, who hit .264 with 22 homers and 50 RBIs in 78 games last season. “Obviously this is a short spring, everyone knows that, we’re all in the same boat. I think everyone is going to do stuff individually. I’m going to get as many live ABs as I can and, when I’m ready to go, go out there and play and see what happens.”

Chapman debut

Matt Chapman apparently knows a thing or two about making a good first impression. He went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer and a walk Sunday. The home run was a no-doubter that went an estimated 376 feet. Not bad for a debut.

“It’s always good to get that first one out of the way, a knock, this time it was a homer,” Chapman said. “I think that helped calm the nerves a little bit. Hopefully gives the fans something to rally behind, something to cheer for. Give them something early.”

Chapman said he likes to take about 40 at-bats each spring before the start of the season, but that number will be lower year with the shortened spring schedule. The priority is getting comfortable with shortstop Bo Bichette. The two haven’t appeared in a game together this spring, but they’ve been working alongside each other daily.

“Bo has been super impressive,” Chapman said. “He’s at the field early, he’s working hard always. He works his butt off. To be able to play the left side of the infield with somebody like that who is hungry to learn, hungry to work hard, it’s going to be easy. He said he really focused on his defence this off-season and I can tell just from watching him take ground balls, he looks really good.”

Red Sox add big bat

The Jays have another star to deal with after the Boston Red Sox signed middle infielder Trevor Story to a six-year contract worth a reported $140 million (U.S.) on Sunday morning. Story was one of the top bats remaining on the open market and he’ll attempt to replace the production that was lost when Kyle Schwarber signed a four-year deal with Philadelphia.

“This is the American League East,” Montoyo said. “We knew Boston was going to do something. This is a tough division, that’s just what it is. I’m not surprised about that.”

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Merryweather makes clean debut

Julian Merryweather made his first appearance of the spring Sunday, tossing a scoreless second inning in relief of starter Anthony Kay. Merryweather gave up a deep fly ball to left field but retired all three batters he faced while striking out one. His fastball was about 95-96 m.p.h., topping out at 98. A slew of injuries has limited him to just 13 innings each of the last two years.

Up next

Right-hander Alek Manoah will get the start on Monday afternoon in a road game against Detroit.

Gregor Chisholm is a Toronto-based baseball columnist for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @GregorChisholm or reach him via email: gchisholm@thestar.ca