Bo Bichette hasn’t played in an MLB game since Sept. 6. And he’s never played second base at the major-league level. But in the biggest game of his life, Bichette will be tasked with taking on a new position while batting fourth for the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 1 of the World Series.
Ahead of the first pitch, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins expressed his confidence in his star infielder’s athleticism and instincts in discussing their decision to give Bichette such a prominent role coming off a seven-week layoff due to a sprained left knee.
“It was more about what we were seeing and then talking about upside, downside,” Atkins said. “And then I think the most important interactions were those with Bo and just how he was responding and feeling, his confidence level in hitting that top gear and what that could mean once adrenaline factors in. Ultimately, our confidence in his hands, his athleticism, his instincts, that was the easy part.”
Bichette has played exclusively at shortstop since making his major-league debut in 2019. He did play some second base in the minor leagues and has been taking ground balls at second over the past few days. Andrés Giménez spent most of the season as Bichette’s double-play partner at second base but Giménez moved over to shortstop when Bichette got injured. Giménez will remain at short for now, with Bichette at second. Blue Jays manager John Schneider said the physical demands on Bichette should be less at second.
“I think that if it were two weeks from now, maybe a different story,” Schneider said ahead of Game 1. “So trying to take a little bit of stress off Bo. It’s still the middle of the diamond, but I think just a little bit less demanding than shortstop.”
Bichette says the move to second was his idea.
“To be honest, I brought it up,” he said. “It was something that I felt like I could get ready for quicker than another position.”
Regardless of where Bichette lines up defensively, the Blue Jays are counting on a boost offensively from having him back in the lineup. Bichette was leading the American League in hits at the time of his injury and finished a strong bounce-back season with a .311/.357/.483 line in 139 games. Like so many Blue Jays hitters, Bichette has strong contact skills and can hit for power (18 homers in 582 at-bats). Toronto will need all of its bats humming against a Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff that allowed just four runs in a four-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series.
Schneider says Bichette has been swinging the bat well in practice situations in recent days, and he’s confident Bichette is ready to face the Dodgers’ pitching staff.
“I think probably 10 days ago, might not be as sure,” Schneider said. “The last week, week and a half, he’s really been able to take some intentful swings and not really hold anything back.”
Bichette joined the Blue Jays organization as a second-round pick in the 2016 MLB Draft. He will be a free agent at the conclusion of the World Series but is hopeful these games aren’t his swan song with the only organization he’s known as a professional baseball player.
“I’ve said it before, my goal is to stay here for my entire career, but right now, I don’t have time to think about that,” Bichette said. “I got to go out there and do everything I can to help the team win.”