Could a pair of Blue Jays contend for Comeback Player of the Year?

"Could the Toronto Blue Jays have not one, but two candidates for Comeback Player of the Year? After frustrating seasons in 2024, both George Springer and Bo Bichette have made their mark on 2025 in a big way, while looking like the stars that fans expected them to be from the jump. Not only has their resurgence onto the scene reignited their own careers, but it's also been a driving force behind the Jays' push to October."

"While Bichette's 2024 season was derailed by injuries, Springer's frustrations came in a different form. Springer could simply never get it going, although it never slipped into his defensive production. 2024 saw Springer slash a carrer-low .220/.303/.371 with a mere .674 OPS in 145 games played. Springer didn't just underperform in the eyes of Jays fans, as his season was one of the worst among qualified hitters in the league."

"Springer's performance across all of 2024 resulted in a 'demotion' out of the leadoff spot, a role that he'd held down since his days with the Astros. When you crack open the hood, it's clear why Springer struggled so mightily. In short, his hard-hit rate and exit velocities dropped significantly. To understand the scope of Springer's case for the award, it's essential to highlight his major areas of improvement."

Both George Springer and Bo Bichette rebounded strongly in 2025 after difficult 2024 seasons, becoming central to the Blue Jays' push toward October. Bichette's 2024 campaign was derailed by injuries, while Springer struggled with offence despite maintaining defensive production. Springer posted a career-low .220/.303/.371 slash line and .674 OPS across 145 games in 2024, ranking among the worst qualified hitters. Springer lost his leadoff role and experienced declines in hard-hit rate and exit velocity. In 2025 Springer increased average exit velocity to 89.6 mph, max exit velocity to 113.3 mph, and raised barrel rate to 14.4% from 9.3%.

Read at Jays Journal