**From USA Today: George Springer won't be silenced: He handles stutter, embraces World Series spotlight**

George Springer is a professional baseball player for the Blue Jays and person with a lifelong stutter. He does extensive charity work in Houston, 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.”

As a proud and vocal advocate, Springer has proved himself an inspiration to the stuttering community. Check out his bio on ESPN to learn more about his baseball career.

Published Aug. 17, 2017

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