World Baseball Classic: George Springer will not play for Puerto Rico

Part of Puerto Rico's preliminary 35-man roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, George Springer has decided to skip the triennial tournament in order to nurse an injury and be in better shape by the time Blue Jays practice gets underway.

A wise decision, as our friend George is fragile, and with the season he had in 2025 (he wowed the gallery from start to finish), Jays fans will want to see the same athlete who gave his team a serious helping hand to win the America East title and go all the way in the playoffs.

Springer was a real spark plug for his manager John Schneider, who had kind words for him throughout the season.

At the age of 36, Springer won his third career Silver Baton and came up with some big hits at important times.

Yes, the World Classic tournament is a blockbuster event featuring 20 countries competing from March 5 to 17 in Miami, Houston, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Tokyo (Japan) for top honors, but some players have their minds elsewhere. At the last edition, Shohei Ohtani and his team defeated the Americans in the grand final.

George Springer confirmed he will not play for Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, per @antolinmr71.

Springer attributed his decision to an injury. pic.twitter.com/yUjspvMAp6

– Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) December 30, 2025

Since the U.S. team cannot invite more players than it is allowed, some athletes born in the U.S., but with ties to other countries, take advantage of the opportunity to play under the colors of another nationality, as Springer could have done with the Puerto Rican squad. The Blue Jays outfielder's mother is a native of this Caribbean territory, which still has a connection with the USA.

Nolan Arenado of the St. Louis Cardinals is in the same situation as Springer, as his mother is also a native.

In making this wise decision, George Springer is more concerned about his upcoming season with the Jays than participating in a tournament that is not of paramount importance in a professional player's career. Springer puts his team first, and it's reassuring to see him do so.

In 2026, the Blue Jays, on the strength of their participation in the last World Series, will have the eyes of the baseball world riveted on them. Their performances will be scrutinized, and many players will be under more pressure than usual. So far, the organization has done its job to assemble the best possible team to once again compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers for top honors. It would be no surprise to see the two teams cross swords again at the conclusion of next season.

By prioritizing his team, Springer is showing his teammates the way and demonstrating the seriousness of his preparation. The outfielder is fragile, but he has always been recognized as a team player and, once again, he is acting as a leader.

This content was created with the help of AI.