TORONTO — Blue Jays outfielder George Springer hit his 55th career leadoff home run in Sunday’s game against Oakland, breaking a tie with Alfonso Soriano and moving him into sole possession of second place on baseball’s all-time list.
Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson leads with 81 career leadoff home runs, including a single-season-high nine with the Yankees in 1986. Henderson’s 3,081 games played is the fourth-highest total in MLB history.
Springer connected off Oakland Athletics right-hander Luis Medina‘s 1-0 pitch, driving it 392 feet to left. The homer was Springer’s 11th of the season.
Overall, on Sunday, Springer went 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs in the Blue Jays’ 12-1 victory.
“It’s special, it’s cool,” Springer said after the game. “You don’t really think of that as a kid or as a player, but it’s awesome. I’m happy about it.”
A four-time All-Star and MVP of the 2017 World Series with Houston, Springer set an Astros single-season record with 12 leadoff home runs in 2019.
Sunday’s blast was Springer’s 16th leadoff shot with the Blue Jays, his team since the start of the 2021 season. He set Toronto’s single-season mark for leadoff homers with nine in 2022.
“When he’s swinging at the right pitch, he’s as dangerous as anyone,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “He makes us go at the top of the lineup. He’s a big part of what we are, how we’re built.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: www.espn.com