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George Springer Injury Devastating for Houston Astros but Not Detrimental

By Josh Sippie

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The Houston Astros are proving that they did it right. After three years of 100 losses and shouldering the ridicule of the baseball world, here they are, at the top of the American League West, which was said to be the toughest division in baseball.

And while they have made some key pickups through free agency and trades (Evan Gattis), they are doing the majority of their magic through their own system (George Springer, Jose Altuve, Dallas Keuchel, Lance McCullers, Vincent Velasquez, Carlos Correa). 

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As such, it comes as a bit of sour news that George Springer is out with a fractured wrist. Springer had really come on as of late, hitting the tar out of the ball (if balls were made of tar), and it was a seriously feel good story to see a bunch of young Astros prospects dominating the toughest division in baseball.

However, George Springer took a pitch to the wrist that fractured it and now he has landed on the DL.

This move is devastating, but not for the reasons you would expect. George Springer was an exciting player, he made outstanding catches, swung the bat like he wished bad things upon the ball and was all smiles in the field. For those reasons, the injury is devastating. Springer’s 2014 season was cut short by injury as well and it was exciting to think of the prospect of Georgie playing an entire season with the Astros, particularly given that they are the sweethearts of the MLB right now.

But from an Astros standpoint, losing George Springer is not the end of the world. Not by a long shot. He was the best outfielders on the team and he has the potential to be one of the best in the majors, but the Astros have depth and they can indeed cover for him. Alex Presley, Jake Marisnick, Colby Rasmus, Robbie Grossman, Preston Tucker – all these guys can step up and carry some of the weight of keeping the Astros in first place.

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Obviously none of those guys are as dynamic as George Springer, but the point is that the Astros have Jose Altuve, Evan Gattis, Luis Valbuena and a handful of other offensive weapons that can still carry the team while he mends. The biggest hit that the Astros take in this scenario is defensively, but even then, Rasmus and Marisnick, even Grossman and Presley, have good speed and good fielding abilities. They may not be as audacious as George Springer, but who is?

Springer will be missed. He will be sorely missed. But mostly because of who he was, his personality and work ethic. The Astros are a team built to weather this kind of storm and they will.

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