Blue Jays Receive Exciting Bo Bichette News Before Royals Game

John Schneider Shares Latest Update on Bo Bichette

On Tuesday, Blue Jays manager John Schneider announced some unfortunate news on Bichette: his return would not come during the regular season after he received a second opinion. The bright side was that the second opinion confirmed his injury would only require rest and rehab, and there was no structural damage. However, there was still uncertainty and concern with Bichette’s status, as he had not returned to baseball activities or made progress.

Ahead of Friday’s series opener with the Kansas City Royals, Schneider announced an exciting development during a radio appearance with Sportsnet: Bichette would begin to hit today, taking swings off the tee and in the batting cage.

This marks the first time Bichette has participated in baseball activities, and with this progress, the Blue Jays can see how his body recovers and formulate a timeline for his return — which could come during the team’s opening round. Bichette’s value primarily comes at the plate, so it’s a positive sign for Toronto that he has begun to build up.

It’s also important for Bichette to come back and be a contributor to potentially add value to his next contract. He is set to enter unrestricted free agency in the offseason, and aside from his down season in 2024, has been a consistent force at the shortstop position. Bichette will likely seek a long-term deal worth around $200 million, and if he can come back and lead Toronto on a deep postseason run, his value is likely to increase.

Regardless, Bichette’s current focus remains on continuing to progress in his rehab as the team attempts to secure a first-round bye in his absence.