George Springer reached 300 career home runs on Tuesday, and one of the pitchers who served up a couple of them along the way shares his clubhouse.
Springer became the 168th player in MLB history to reach the mark, connecting on a two-run shot off Red Sox reliever Ryan Watson in the ninth inning of Toronto's 6-1 win at Fenway Park. His first big league homer came May 8, 2014, off Drew Smyly. No. 46 and 47 followed in 2016 against Kevin Gausman, then with the Baltimore Orioles and now a Blue Jays teammate.
"I mean, I've been a part of a couple of those, so I'm in that book," Gausman told Sportsnet's Shi Davidi this week. "Exceptional hitter, great teammate, great player. ... I'm not surprised that he's at 300 homers."
Springer, 36, hit 174 home runs with the Houston Astros, who drafted him 11th overall in 2011 before signing a six-year, $150 million contract with Toronto ahead of the 2021 season. He added 126 as a Blue Jay and ranks 16th among active players.
Gausman also pointed to Springer's reputation for putting his body on the line, a trait on display this year. The 300th was Springer's seventh homer and part of a surge that suggests he is turning the corner on a fractured left big toe suffered on April 11, managing through pain after coming back from the injured list 16 days later.
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Springer enters Friday against the Chicago Cubs batting .218 with 22 runs scored, seven home runs and 19 RBIs. If his bat keeps climbing, Toronto's leadoff spot gets a jolt it has missed for a good part of the season in a wild-card chase that is still up for grabs.
