Bo Bichette Is More Valuable as a Second Baseman

Season	AVG	wRC+
2019	.311	143
2020	.301	120
2021	.298	122
2022	.290	129
2023	.306	124
2024	.225	70
2025	.311	134

In 2025, Bichette proved beyond a doubt that 2024 was just a blip on the radar, posting his highest batting average, on-base percentage, and wRC+ since his rookie cup of coffee. His 14.5% strikeout rate (86th percentile) was by far the best of his career, as was his 18.4% whiff rate (84th percentile). He had never previously ranked above the 75th percentile in either category.

Aside from health, the key to his success might have been a slower, more intentional swing.

Bichette swung less often in 2025, especially on pitches in the zone. And when he did swing, he did so slower than before.

His average bat speed from 2023-24 was 70.3 mph, more than a mile per hour slower than the MLB average. In 2025, his average bat speed dropped by more than a mile per hour (while the league average rose), putting him nearly three miles per hour off the league-average pace.

Even more substantial was Bichette’s decrease in fast swing rate – the percentage of his competitive swings tracked at 75 mph or faster. From 2023-24, that number was 14.9%, compared to a 22.6% league average. This past year, the league average increased to 24.7%, while Bichette’s fast swing rate fell to just 9.4%.

Yet, Bichette’s 48.8% hard-hit rate was the second-highest of his career (only his 50.3% rate in 2022 was better), and he still hit 18 home runs, 44 doubles, and one triple in 582 at-bats.

All else being equal, faster swings are going to be more productive swings. But in Bichette’s case, it’s hard to deny that his slower swing paid off.

So, I know what you’re thinking: Wasn’t this article supposed to be about Bichette’s defense, not his offense? Yes. You’re right. And it is about his defense.

You see, I think Bichette’s glove could take a lesson from his bat.

Bo Bichette is never going to be the strongest guy on the field. He knows that. So in 2025, he leaned into that weakness. It paid off with what was arguably the best offensive season of his career.

Could he take the same approach on the other side of the ball?

Over seven big league seasons, Bichette has racked up -19 DRS, -32 OAA, and -27 FRV. In case you think the traditional stats might like him any better, well… his .966 fielding percentage ranks fifth-last among shortstops (min. 2500 PA) since his debut.

So, instead of trying again and again to make something work that just isn’t going to, is it time he leans into another weakness in search of a strength?

Is it time he moves to second base?

Bichette grades out poorly on metrics that quantify both defensive range and throwing capabilities. Moving to second base would mitigate those issues. After all, playing shortstop is harder than playing second. But there’s more to it than that.

Throughout his career, Bichette’s biggest weakness has been plays that require him to run in. Of his -32 OAA, 27 of those lost outs were on balls that Statcast sorted as “in” plays, as opposed to “lateral” or “back” plays.

I wonder if Bichette often sets up closer to home plate than most shortstops – to help him compensate for his weak throwing arm – and, therefore, he has less time to react to plays that require him to move forward. If he didn’t have to worry so much about making tough throws, he could put himself in a better position to make fewer fielding mistakes.

It’s also worth noting that Bichette actually has a positive OAA for his career on balls hit by left-handed batters. That’s not entirely unexpected; a lefty batter’s pull side is the right side of the field, which means that when a lefty hits a ball to shortstop (i.e., to the left side), he probably isn’t hitting it very hard. It’s simple baseball physics: Opposite field contact tends to be weaker than pulled contact.

So, it stands to reason that Bichette would have more time to react to balls hit by left-handed batters. And for Bichette, more time to react means better results.

Sometimes, opposite field contact can cause trouble for fielders because it’s less common and, therefore, harder to anticipate. So, the fact that Bichette has slightly above-average numbers against lefties only supports the theory that his primary source of difficulty is limited reaction time.

Second basemen tend to field more oppo contact than shortstops, simply because there are more right-handed batters than left-handed batters in the league. Considering Bichette has been so much better at handling oppo contact than pulled contact in his career, he could really benefit from moving to a position where he would see oppo contact more often.

Shortstop is a more valuable position than second base. Indeed, some metrics will tell you that a mediocre defensive shortstop is just as valuable as a strong defensive second baseman. For instance, all else being equal, FanGraphs credits a full-time shortstop with five more runs of value than a full-time second baseman over the course of a season.

Yet, I think Bichette could see more than a five-run improvement (enough to cancel out that positional WAR adjustment) with a move to second base. That’s especially true if he joins a team that can partner him with a strong defensive shortstop — in other words, the kind of team that would actually ask him to switch positions.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that the offensive baseline is no higher at second base than at shortstop. This isn’t a situation where the position’s harder defensive requirements lead to a lesser offensive standard. In fact, shortstops have out-hit second basemen in several of the past few seasons.

Since Bichette’s debut season in 2019, MLB shortstops have a 99 wRC+, while second basemen own a collective 95 wRC+.

Here’s another way to think about it: Over the past seven years, nine primary shortstops (min. 1,000 PA) have a 120 wRC+ or higher, including Bichette. In the same time period, only three primary second basemen have a wRC+ at least 20% better than league average.

So, not only would Bichette’s glove stick out less, but his bat would stand out more at the keystone. That sounds like a win-win.

I understand why Bichette might be hesitant to switch positions. But he was willing to play second base in the World Series so he could get back on the field faster and do what was best for his team. In other words, we know he’s not completely opposed to playing second.

That makes me think he’d probably be willing to switch positions full-time in 2026, provided it’s his decision. (He made it very clear it was his own idea to play second in the World Series.)

Perhaps more importantly, I think he’d be willing to switch positions full-time in 2026 if it helps him land the best possible contract.

Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins suggested that the Blue Jays would welcome Bichette back as their shortstop if that’s where he wanted to play. But what if another team is willing to offer bigger bucks for Bichette to become a second baseman?

Switching positions is always a big change. But again, if Bichette was confident enough in his second base skills to play the position for the first time ever at the MLB level in the freakin’ World Series, you’d think he’d be confident enough to move there permanently after a full, healthy offseason to prepare.

By acknowledging, accepting, and leaning in to one of his shortcomings, Bo Bichette could make himself an even better ballplayer. Simply put, he’s more valuable as a second baseman, and I expect the free agent market and his performance next season to prove just that.