Bo Bichette is making strides in his recovery from injury. The Toronto Blue Jays shortstop has been sidelined with a calf strain since July 19, marking a disappointing season for him.
Recent updates from Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reveal Bichette’s progress. He began the week by running the bases on Monday and will continue with “baseball activities on the field” on Tuesday, followed by another round of base running on Wednesday. Potentially, he could soon join rehab games.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider provided further details during his Saturday appearance on the Blair and Barker podcast. “Bo [is] continuing to progress well,” Schneider said. “He’ll have a lighter running day today but will engage in hitting, taking ground balls, and other baseball activities. He’s definitely making progress.”
According to McGrath, Bichette will remain with the Blue Jays for their upcoming series in Atlanta. Should he embark on a rehab assignment afterward, he might return with just over two weeks left in the season. With the Blue Jays out of playoff contention, his return would mainly aim to build momentum for the next season and end his difficult year on a positive note.
Bichette’s 2024 season has been challenging. After an All-Star 2023, where he hit .306 with 20 home runs and an .814 OPS, expectations were high. However, both Bichette and the Blue Jays have struggled this year. Bichette’s performance has dropped to a .222 average with only four home runs in 80 games. His bWAR is negative (-0.4) and his OPS+ is well below average (69).
Reflecting on his season, Bichette told SportsNet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith that the injury came at a critical moment. He felt he was starting to improve before the calf strain derailed his season. “There was never any doubt in my mind that I’d figure it out,” Bichette said. “It was tough when it was taken away, but I moved on quickly.”
