TORONTO — After thrilling supporters from coast to coast, George Springer expressed deep affection for his adopted home.
The star player, whose pivotal hit propelled the Toronto Blue Jays to their first championship series in decades, stood on the field, visibly moved.
“I’m overjoyed for our team,” Springer said to Fox Sports after the final play. “Our fans, our city, our country.”
Our country.
Springer was born in Connecticut. He played college ball there and was on the U.S. national team. Before joining the Jays with a major contract before the 2021 season, he had never resided in Canada. He remains an American citizen and lives in Florida during the off-season. He is American and proud.
Yet, he identified Canada as “our country.”
“Hearing the anthem makes you realize you’re representing a nation,” the athlete stated during a practice session.
Springer’s sentiment reflects an interesting aspect of Canada’s team: its international makeup. As the nation’s only MLB team, the Jays have broad appeal. This was evident in television viewership during the postseason, with many Canadians tuning in for the deciding game. This is equivalent to a huge number of Americans.
The Blue Jays, while historically including Canadian players, currently have few.
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Toronto’s sole Canadian is Vladimir Guerrero Jr., born in Montreal while his father played for the Expos. Although Guerrero holds Canadian citizenship, he grew up in the Dominican Republic and represents that country in international competitions. Notably, Freddie Freeman, playing for the Dodgers, is the only player in this series to have represented Team Canada, born to Canadian parents in California.
The Jays’ series roster includes mostly Americans, along with players from Venezuela, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Guerrero. Cuban Yariel Rodriguez might be replaced. Despite this, the team often faces comments from rival fans regarding their non-Canadian composition.
“Yankee fans often assume I’m Canadian simply because I play for the Blue Jays,” pitcher Shane Bieber remarked.
This extends to Toronto’s coaching staff. While bullpen catcher Alex Andreopoulos is from Toronto and assistant pitching coach Sam Greene has ties to Quebec, most staff members are not Canadian. Manager John Schneider, with the organization for a long time, is from New Jersey.
Living and succeeding in Toronto has created a unique sense of national pride among the non-Canadian members.
“We feel almost Canadian,” Schneider said. “We spend so much time here, immersed in the culture and the people, that it’s easy to embrace it.”
This feeling has grown during the recent run, uniting Canada. Baseball is popular, with the team’s logo displayed everywhere. Even a government official visited the Rogers Centre, speaking with team leaders.
“We want the biggest fan base,” outfielder Myles Straw said. “It’s great to have the country supporting us.”
“You realize you’re the only baseball team for this country,” reserve Ty France explained. “It adds significance.”
Players say this support and the perks of living in Toronto outweigh logistical challenges related to playing in Canada. For example, customs forms are common on road trips. Straw mentioned staying mindful of his passport. Converting currency can also become routine.
“I struggled with the metric system,” Springer recalled about his initial time in Canada, mentioning speed limits and gas calculations.
Springer has adjusted. He easily converts temperatures and understands kilometers. This place has become home. He’s happy living and playing here, a feeling strengthened recently.
Canadians nationwide are pleased to have him.
