TORONTO — Not only is Bo Bichette on the Blue Jays’ roster for the World Series, he is right in the middle of the action. Bichette, who hasn’t played since suffering a left knee sprain sliding home on Sept. 6, is in the lineup batting cleanup for Friday’s Game 1 against the Dodgers. He is also playing second base, a position he hasnâ€t seen action at since one game for Triple-A Buffalo in 2019 — and it was his idea.
“To be honest, I brought it up,” Bichette said on Friday. “It was something that I felt like I could get ready for quicker than another position. I just want to be ready to help the team in any way that is afforded to me, so that felt like an opportunity for me, and obviously they were on board with it.”
Bichette becomes the fourth player to make his first career start at a fielding position — excluding pitcher and DH, minimum of 300 career regular-season games — in the postseason, joining Jon Berti (2024 ALDS Game 2, first base for Yankees), Carlos Santana (2016 World Series Game 3, left field for Cleveland) and Jake Flowers (1931 World Series Game 2, third base for Cardinals).
This has been a long, challenging rehab process for Bichette. Initially, the Blue Jays had been optimistic that his knee injury was just cuts and bruises, but tests soon showed a PCL sprain and his progress since then has been slow, the decision looming over both the ALDS and ALCS roster decisions against the Yankees and Mariners.
Prior to the AL Championship Series against the Mariners, Bichette tested his knee running the bases, but was still in clear discomfort. In recent days at Rogers Centre, Bichette has been running and itâ€s looked somewhat better, but we still havenâ€t seen the 27-year-old crank it up to full game speed.
Just how healthy he is still isnâ€t clear — Bichette wouldn’t put a percentage on it on Friday — but he is obviously still worth rostering as the Blue Jays need all the offensive firepower they can get to take down the mighty Dodgers. In addition, playing Bichette in the field allows them to keep George Springer at designated hitter, where he has been for the entire postseason.
One thing is for sure: Bichette will get a hero’s welcome Friday night as his team begins its Fall Classic journey.
“I’ll do my best to enjoy it. I’m not going to lie. I’ve thought about it,” Bichette said. “Seeing how excited the fan base is and the love they have for everybody, I’ve definitely thought about that, so it will be a special moment.”
Discover more from 6up.net
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.