The roar inside the Rogers Centre was deafening. In fact, it was as if a mini earthquake had occurred, and the excitement was palpable. The Toronto Blue Jays had just completed the comeback for the ages. A 4-3 Game 7 thriller that punched their ticket to the World Series for the first time since three decades. But amidst the chaos, one figure sprinted with no waiting—none other than George Springer.

His right knee for sure had seen better days, but in that time, nothing could slow him down. Springer later said, smiling, “I probably ran as fast as I could in the moment. I wanted to be out there with the boys.” But honestly, the story of Springer is far beyond the home runs or the celebratory sprint. It is a testament to persistence, despite doubts creeping in.

Springer has lived with a stutter since his childhood—a condition that made him the bullying target for many, and for a long time, and that pushed him to avoid speaking altogether.

MLB analyst Ben Verlander shared George Springer’s journey and how he found confidence over the years. On X, Verlander wrote, “He now has the confidence to do interviews on the biggest stage, but that didn’t come easy. He used to shy away from speaking. Now he’s using his voice to show everyone of all ages, who struggles with a stutter, a powerful message: “I hope I can be proof that things do get easier. You can do what you want to do. You can say what you want to say….can be who you want to be.” 

That same resilience has also shaped George Springer’s career. His three-run homer in the seventh inning essentially flipped the 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead on Sunday. It was not just another clutch swing; it was another reminder of his ability to rise when it matters the most. It was his 23rd career postseason home run, and it tied with Kyle Schwarber for third all-time.

Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt, who threw a scoreless eight innings after Springer’s blast, said, “This is the George Springer I’ve always known. An MVP-caliber player people wrote off. We didn’t. We trusted him. And damn, it feels good.” From overcoming speech challenges to silencing doubters on baseball’s biggest stage, he has come a long way. Now he is not just the Jays’ lead-off man; he is their heartbeat. And they will be counting on him when they face the Dodgers for the last leg.

George Springer shows kids who stutter that their voice matters

The George Springer you see now is always talking or singing, or dancing too! However, this confidence is not something inherent; he built it after years of struggle. And hence, he knows the importance of being confident—he was, after all, shaped by the struggles he faced due to his stutter. And now, he is using his platform to encourage young people who stutter to share their voices, their stories, and everything that matters.

In June, for example, he hosted a charity bowling event in Toronto to benefit the Stuttering Association for the Young and the Jays Care Foundation. He helped raise funds through a silent auction with his teammates and coaches like Chris Bassitt, José Berríos, Danny Jansen, Cavan Biggio, and Trevor Richards. It featured signed memorabilia from Vince Carter, Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and even Bruce Springsteen tickets. Later, Springer mentioned, “For all of the kids or the parents who have a child who stutters, or has come across somebody who does, I hope that I can be proof that things do get easier. You can do what you want to do. You can say what you want to say. You can be who you want to be.”

SAY founder Taro Alexander knows what Springer represents and hence said, “I wished that there was someone when I was a kid who could make stuttering cool. Then one day, when I wasn’t a kid anymore, I saw this really amazing person on television. He was cool, he was a great athlete and he stuttered just like me, just like the hundreds and thousands of friends I have who stutter. He owned it. He didn’t shy away from saying what he wanted to say. He was just himself. He did what I had never seen anyone do before him. He made stuttering cool.” Springer’s work with the SAY stretches back to his time with the Astros, and he is continuing the good work even now.

More than 80 million people worldwide suffer from it, and 5% of the children experience it at some point. Springer has helped multiple kids, and honestly, only his presence helps bring that relatability factor in.