Springer ages 26-32 (2016 to 2022)
.271/.358/.500
10.8% BB
20.0% K
.203 ISO
+3.7 BsR
+4.3 SPD score
45 SB in 826 games
-22.1 Def (talent + position adjustment)
42.7% Pull
35.8% hard hit (not statcast)
36.1% FB
45.1% GB
89.1 mph EV
116.4 maxEV
10.2% barrel
Springer ages 33-34 (2023-2024)
.241/.318/.393
9.3% BB
18.6% K
.152 ISO
+2.6 BsR
+5.0 SPD score
34 SB in 288 games
-14.6 Def (talent + position adjustment)
40% Pull
32.7% hard hit (not statcast)
34.1% FB
47.2% GB
88.1 mph EV
115.9 maxEV
8.4% barrel
There are some weird trends there. The decline in raw power is expected, but why are the speed components of his game ticking up? Is he trying to cope with the change in his skills and provide value in other ways? It seems like there is an associated approach change and he is hitting the ball up the middle and on the ground more often. I wonder if this is sort of intentional or just a side effect of less bat speed. It would be frustrating to find out he is trying to defy the aging curve by slapping the ball around more and doing sprints all offseason so he can steal more bases...
Like, a power hitter who is a .271/.358/.500 dude, who declines a bit, you would expect to maybe walk just as much or MORE as an old man but just hit for a lower average and with a bit less pop. Like Carlos Santana, who was .259/.366/.498 at age 30 and .240/.318/.429 at f***ing 37 years old. That's less hits but still a .189 ISO. Corner outfield guy like George, you kind of want him to age into a DH who can still do damage, right?
George's power has declined more than it should have. There is a way out of this, and it's pretty simple, he needs to just find his old batted ball profile and pull it in the air a bit more. He won't do that and hit .271 anymore because that level of skill is gone, but can probably hit .230/.320/.430 or so instead of the not impactful .241/.318/.393 (101 wRC+) line he has provided in the last two years. Not a huge bump but that might be a 110 wRC+ or so. Which would be fine.