Bo Bichette era with the Toronto Blue Jays is officially over
Photo credit: Kim Klement-Imagn Images
The Bo Bichette era with the Toronto Blue Jays is officially over, and what a fun ride it was.
Bo Bichette waved goodbye to the Blue Jays and their fans by signing a three-year, US$126-million contract with the New York Mets in free agency Friday
The parting with Bichette will be more emotional for fans, players and staff alike considering he first joined the Blue Jays ten years ago as a second-round pick in 2016.
Sportsnet's Hazel may reached out to his friend and former teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr for a reaction to Bichette leaving Toronto for New York, and Guerrero had a rather somber answer.
"Of course, I feel sad after playing with him for so many years, but like I've always said, this is a business, and you have to look out for what's best for you and your family." Guerrero added..."I wish him the best. We won't be teammates anymore, but our friendship will last forever."
Bo Bichette timeline with the Toronto Blue Jays
On June 9, 2016 the Toronto Blue Jays select Bichette, the son of four-time all-star outfielder Dante Bichette, in the second round (66th overall) of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft from Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, Fla.
1st pro homer for Blue Jays 2nd-rounder Bo Bichette ... A grand slam! .455 in 22 MiLB ABs: http://atmlb.com/29jUfLZ
In 2017, at age 19, Bo's combined .362 batting average led all of Minor League Baseball, and made him the first teenager to lead the minors in hitting since Gil Torres did so in 1963.
He was also named the Midwest League's MVP, Prospect of the Year, and League All Star.
On July 29th, 2019 Bichette makes his major league debut, posting one hit in four at-bats in a 7-3 Blue Jays win over the Royals in Kansas City, Mo.
Bo Bichette picks up his first career hit!
Two games later, Bichette hits his first career home run as part of a three-hit day to help the Blue Jays win 4-1 and sweep the Royals.
Bo Bichette hits his first career MLB home run!
He started his rookie season by setting the MLB record as the only hitter with 15 extra-base hits in his first 15 games.
He also tied Ted Williams MLB record with a nine-game extra-base hit streak as a rookie (Williams did it in 1939).
He set the all-time MLB record with a double in nine consecutive games. He reached base in each of his first 17 career games, a franchise record.
In 2020 Bichette had a hit in 13 of 14 games to start the season, including a 5 for 5 game in which he homered, walked, scored three times and stole two bases, making him the youngest player in franchise history to accumulate five hits in a single game.
The 22-year-old made his postseason debut in September of 2020, striking out once and hitting one sacrifice fly in a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series.
Bichette and co-star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. led a young Blue Jays team to the surprise playoff berth with a 32-28 record in the COVID-shortened season.
The following season Bichette is named an MLB all-star for the first time.
He made the American League team as a reserve shortstop after a hot start to the season, joining teammates Guerrero, Marcus Semien and Hernandez on the roster.
Bo Bichette leads AL shortstops in HR, RBI, runs and stolen bases. He also came up big to keep the Blue Jays Postseason hopes alive. #MLBTonight
Bichette finishes the 2021 regular season as the AL hits leader with a career-high 191. He also had a career-best 29 home runs, 102 RBIs and 25 stolen bases.
2022 was more of the same from Bichette as he lead the AL in hits for a second consecutive season with 189, including 48 in September to set a Blue Jays franchise record for most in a single month. Bichette also hit 24 homers and 93 RBIs in 2022.
However, his post season ended when he collides with centerfielder George Springer in the eighth inning of a season-ending 10-9 loss to the Seattle Mariners in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series in Toronto.
A scary moment as Bo Bichette and George Springer collide in the outfield. The Mariners cleared the bases to tie the game (via Sportsnet)
In 2023, Bichette earned a second all-star selection alongside Blue Jays infielders Guerrero and Whit Merrifield, and pitcher Kevin Gausman. He led the AL in hits with 113 at the time.
Bichette had an injury plagued 2024 which he and most Blue Jays fans would like to forget.
In his contract year Bo was on par for the course, becoming the first Blue Jays shortstop to record 100 career home runs with a solo shot against the Athletics.
In September, Bo's regular season run would come to an end when he sprained his right knee sliding into home plate against the Yankees.
Bo would make a triumphant return on November 1st in Game 1 of the World Series where he played second base for the first time in his MLB career.
Playing with an injured leg, Bichette hits a dramatic three-run homer off Shohei Ohtani to give the Blue Jays a 3-0 lead in Game 7 of the World Series at Rogers Centre.
Bo Bichette's 3 run home-run off Shohei Ohtani in Game 7 of the World Series was so legendary. On ONE LEG basically. There were going to be statuses built of this moment if the game ended differently...And now he's gone. What a bummer. #BlueJays
Toronto ultimately lost 5-4 in 11 innings to the Los Angeles Dodgers in an instant classic.
Bichette will now be reunited with Marcus Semien, someone he grew close to when they played together in Toronto.
We here at Blue Jays Central wish Bo Bichette the best of luck with the New York Mets.
Also read on Blue Jays Central :
Vladimir Guerrero Jr shares feelings on Toronto Blue Jays losing Bo Bichette
Vladimir Guerrero Jr shares feelings on Toronto Blue Jays losing Bo Bichette
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 17|108 ANSWERS Bo Bichette era with the Toronto Blue Jays is officially over Do you think the Toronto Blue Jays made a mistake by letting Bo Bichette go to free agency? | ||
| Yes | 41 | 38 % |
| No | 56 | 51.9 % |
| Too early to tell | 11 | 10.2 % |
| List of polls | ||