George Springer Scores with Inspiration

Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

George Springer is a professional baseball player for the Blue Jays and person with a lifelong stutter. He does extensive charity work, helping provide treatment and confidence to children with speech development difficulties. He knows how difficult it can be to stutter as a child.

Springer exhibited his natural athletic skill from a young age. However, in between baseball practices, Springer spent his time in speech therapy because of his stutter. While the therapy helped, Springer continues to speak with a stutter; that is, until his conversation topic switches to something rather close to his heart.

“[My college baseball coach] told me that I don’t ever stutter if I’m talking about something that I like to talk about, especially if I’m talking about the game,” Springer says. “The game is something that I’m comfortable with, it’s something that I love.”

Now, Springer chooses to embrace rather than shy away from his stutter. In July 2017, Springer elected to wear a microphone during the All-Star game in Miami. He hopes that his choice to speak up will inspire others who stutter. “I can’t spread a message to kids and adults if I’m not willing to put myself out there,” he told reporters after the game. “I understand I’m going to stutter. I don’t care. It is what it is. It’s not going to stop me from talking or having fun.”

Springer's refusal to stay silent and hide his stutter serves as an inspiration to all. We, at the Stuttering Foundation, hope that his example will encourage those who stutter to face their fears head-on. As Springer says, "Don't let anybody or anything get in the way of who you are and who you want to be."

LINKS:

From CBC: For Brandon Kelly, George Springer is not just a great hitter, but a role model for kids who stutter

Check out his bio on ESPN

Article from our Winter 2018 Magazine: A Home Run for Stuttering

USA Today article from 2017 World Series: George Springer won't be silenced: He handles stutter, embraces World Series spotlight

Article from our Fall 2017 Magazine: Bringing It Home

Published Aug. 17, 2017, updated Oct. 27, 2025

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