George Springer

As the third generation in his family to pursue a love of baseball not just in the stands but on the field, George Springer's achievements as an athlete felt even more meaningful. Springer's grandfather emigrated to the U.S. from Panama at the age of 17 with dreams of becoming a professional ball player. His journey was cut short by an injury after four years playing college ball, but his son, Springer's father, picked up the torch as a youngster, even playing at the 1976 Little League World Series. By the time Springer himself was rapturously caught up in the trials of minor league team the New Britain Rock Cats as a child, it was clear that the family's passion had reached him with full force. He would play for his college team, the Connecticut Huskies, before he was selected by the Houston Astros in the first round of the 2011 MLB draft. After a few seasons playing for minor league Astros affiliates the Tri-City ValleyCats, the Lancaster JetHawks, and the Corpus Christi Hooks, Springer was called up to the Astros active roster in 2014. He would prove to be an asset to the team as both a right and center fielder, and led the American League during the 2016 season with 744 plate appearances.