George Springer took a pitch off his right kneecap in the seventh inning of Game 5 of the ALCS. Steph Chambers / Getty Images
In a potentially series-altering event, Toronto Blue Jays leadoff man George Springer exited Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Friday after taking a 95.6 mph fastball off his right knee.
With the Blue Jays leading 2-1 in the top of the seventh, Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo flung a 1-1 sinker that ran in on Springer and caught the designated hitter flush in his kneecap. Springer, a four-time All-Star in the midst of a career resurgence, immediately went to the ground and stayed there as Toronto manager John Schneider and a team athletic trainer rushed to his side.
Springer, 36, eventually was helped to his feet. He limped toward first base before a brief attempt at a warmup jog. The Blue Jays opted to remove him from the game out of apparent precaution.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, working as a sideline reporter on the FS1 telecast, later relayed that Schneider told him Springer “wanted to stay in, but ultimately, he was in too much pain and discomfort.”
Now in his 12th season, Springer hit a career-high .309 in the regular season with 32 home runs, his most since he received down-ballot MVP votes with the Houston Astros in 2019. His success had carried into this postseason, with Springer supplying three home runs and six RBIs through his first eight-plus games.
Springer was replaced by pinch-runner Joey Loperfido, who remained in the game as the designated hitter.
According to the FS1 telecast, the carom off Springer’s knee was so violent that it registered on Statcast as a 55 mph batted ball.
Oct 18, 2025
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