TORONTO — Bo Bichette just had a career-defining moment in the biggest game of his life, launching a three-run home run off Shohei Ohtani in Game 7 of the World Series on Saturday.
The 442-foot shot sent Rogers Centre into a frenzy and chased Ohtani, giving the Blue Jays a 3-0 lead in the third inning as they try to chase down their first World Series title since 1993.
Bichetteâ€s first 10 steps out of the box were a stroll, admiring what heâ€d just done before he flipped his bat to the ground and began jogging slowly up the line. Hobbled by a left knee sprain that forced him to miss seven weeks before returning for the World Series, Bichette may have just authored one of the biggest moments in Blue Jays history.
The 27-year-old is nowhere near 100%. Not even close. In the bottom of the second inning, Bichette was on second base when Ernie Clement shot a single into right field, but he struggled getting to third base and was clearly favoring his left knee as he attempted to round and score. He was held up, and rightfully so, on a play that a healthy Bichette could have scored on.
This time, Bichette chose a home run trot.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., whoâ€d been intentionally walked in front of Bichette in hopes of setting up the double play, barely took a step before he realized it was gone. He and Bichette have grown up together in this organization, first teammates in Single-A Lansing and then close friends. They represented this organizationâ€s next great hope coming over the horizon after those postseason runs of 2015 and ‘16, and a moment like this is what so many have dreamed of for nearly 10 years.
Bichette, trotting up the line. Guerrero, his arms to the sky all the way from first to home, waiting for his longtime friend and co-star to come in behind him.
As Bichette finally crossed the plate, the great Ohtani had already walked off the mound, defeated by Bichette.
Since returning for the World Series, Bichette has also taken on second base for the first time in his MLB career, a position he hadnâ€t played since Triple-A, in an attempt to limit the strain on his knee. Now, with one incredible swing from Bichette, the Blue Jays have a shot at their first World Series in 32 years, which would make Bichette a hero in Toronto forever.
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