How George Springer’s World Series Run Rewrites the Script for Kids Who Stutter

The air is electric in Toronto as George Springer and the Blue Jays head to their first World Series since 1993. When Springer launched that game-winning three-run home run in Game 7 of the ALCS, fans saw a baseball star securing a spot on the biggest stage.

But for millions of people who stutter, particularly children and teens, this moment means something far greater: It’s a powerful testament to confidence, resilience, and the power of owning your voice—no matter how it comes out.

From Silence to Center Stage

George Springer has stuttered since he was a child. Growing up, his stutter made interacting with others difficult, leaving him feeling extremely isolating and debilitating. He recalls being afraid to speak up, often relying on his parents or sister to speak for him in public, and even being ridiculed and bullied by other kids.

Springer candidly shares that as a kid, he "didn't like to talk" and would go full days without speaking unless he was around friends or family who understood him.

It was on the baseball diamond that things changed. The game "allowed me to be be who I am". His college coach even pointed out that he never stuttered on the baseball field. For Springer, baseball became a safe space—a place where he could relax, calm down, and realize that he could be anything he wanted to be.

Now, as a World Series champion and four-time All-Star, Springer’s visibility challenges the assumption that athletes must be "flawless communicators". His message to all: “You can’t let something that you can’t control stop you from being who you want to be,” and, perhaps most importantly, “you just need to embrace it. Embrace who you are. Embrace how you talk”.

A Hero Beyond Baseball

Springer’s advocacy is rooted in action. He has been a national spokesperson for SAY (Stuttering Association for the Young) for years. His work includes hosting an annual benefit run in Houston to help send kids to Camp SAY.

His visibility and openness about his speech disorder provide immense hope. Unlike narratives that encourage "overcoming" stuttering, Springer focuses on acceptance, asserting that it is okay to stutter. This message resonates deeply within the community, reminding everyone that leadership isn't about flawless delivery; it's about connection and inspiration.

The impact of his platform is clearest when looking at his relationship with young fans, such as Mateo Sanchez. When seven-year-old Mateo, who also battles a stutter, met his idol in 2017, it was a breakthrough moment. Springer shared an intimate bond with the boy, advising him: “You’re not gonna let it bother you, you’re gonna have fun every single day and enjoy being a kid”.

Inspired by Springer's confidence and courage, Mateo—a kid who once retreated because of his stutter—now gives presentations on stuttering awareness and helps others understand how to be more patient and kind. Mateo’s story proves that with the right role model, a difficult diagnosis can become an opportunity to educate others, making a perceived weakness into a source of strength.

Embrace Your Voice

Whether he wins this World Series or not, George Springer has already secured a crucial victory: showing millions that their voice matters, regardless of how it comes out.

He is proof that even when the glare of lights and microphones is on you, you can still step up to the plate and be exactly who you are.

As Springer once said, "If I can do it somebody else can do it"

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Resources, InspirationalUri SchneiderStuttering, Teens, Speech Therapy, SLP, Adults, School-age