DUNEDIN – Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette appears and appears like himself once more at spring coaching after an injury-plagued 2024 season.
That’s excellent news for a participant coming into his stroll 12 months and a workforce that wants him to be in prime kind because it appears to bounce again from a last-place end within the American League East.
“I believe we’re able to successful a variety of video games, I believe we’re positively higher,” Bichette stated Thursday. “There’s pleasure, I believe all people is prepared to do their half to win and present all people what we’re able to if folks forgot. So it’s thrilling.”
Bichette chatted for a couple of minutes by his clubhouse stall earlier than morning exercises on the workforce’s participant improvement complicated. He bumped fists with teammate and good pal, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., because the slugger walked by through the interview.
Each infielders got here up by way of the system and have been tagged as faces of the franchise. Nonetheless, their future with the membership past this season is unclear.
Bichette hasn’t had contract extension talks with the Blue Jays, who have been unable to ink Guerrero to a long-term deal earlier than his negotiation deadline arrived earlier this week.
“I’ve performed with him for therefore a few years that I do know he’s right here to win,” Bichette stated. “Identical goes for everyone else in right here. So I believe it’s fairly straightforward for us to place the media consideration on that behind us and simply get centered on successful.”
Associated Movies
Bichette signed a three-year, US$33.6-million take care of the Blue Jays in early 2023 that coated his three seasons of arbitration eligibility. He stated he has not had extension talks of his personal.

Get weekly well being information
Obtain the newest medical information and well being data delivered to you each Sunday.
“If that comes, then we’ll determine that out,” he stated. “I’m unsure how that may look. However for me proper now, I’m simply centered on being the very best that I could be serving to the workforce win. That’s actually it.”
Bichette handled nagging calf points final 12 months and had his season finish in mid-September when he fractured the center finger on his throwing hand.
“Bo appears like Bo, which is basically, actually refreshing,” Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider stated after watching Bichette at observe.
The 26-year-old shortstop has appeared clean and cozy throughout infield drills with new second baseman Andres Gimenez, who was acquired in December from the Cleveland Guardians.
“The final couple years it’s been sort of who is aware of who’s going to play second base,” Bichette stated. “So I believe when you recognize somebody goes to be there each day, (the consolation comes) fairly fast.”
Gimenez, 26, has posted middling numbers on the plate however is a defensive standout. He additionally has loads of velocity, stealing 30 bases in every of the final two seasons.
Signed to a profitable deal by way of 2029 with a workforce choice for 2030, his arrival makes a powerful defence even higher.
“I believe he’s taken away in all probability 30 hits from us the final couple years,” Schneider stated. “So I’m glad he’s on our aspect. He’s all enterprise. I believe he brings the depth up with every ground-ball session for everyone due to what he can do defensively.
“He can actually swing the bat too.”
A two-time all-star, Bichette led the American League in hits in 2021 and ’22. He hit at the very least 20 homers in his first three full seasons with the Blue Jays however struggled final 12 months with a .225 common and simply 4 homers and 31 RBIs over 81 video games.
“There’s at all times numbers that you just suppose you’re able to and wish to attain,” stated Bichette, who has shorn his lengthy brown hair. “However actually for me, I simply wish to be as aggressive as I can each day, the hardest attainable out that I could be each day.
“I wish to search for each benefit I can on the bases, within the subject and as a hitter. I believe if I maintain these (issues) the main focus, I’ll be in a great spot.”
The primary half of the 2025 season might be a important interval for a workforce that’s constructed to win now. Early struggles may result in one other sell-off on the commerce deadline and a possible rebuild.
But when every thing clicks and the workforce turns into a contender once more, the core that’s in place may endure. Bichette and Guerrero have at all times expressed their need to remain collectively and win collectively.
Whether or not that’s in Toronto or elsewhere stays to be seen.
“I believe I’ve discovered to understand the enjoyment he performs with and the fervour he performs with,” Bichette stated of Guerrero. “What you see on the sphere is what you get within the clubhouse. He’s simply having fun with life, which I admire a ton. He helps stability me out I believe.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Feb. 20, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
Source link