Bo Bichette has played through a sprained PCL in his left knee during the World Series. He’s clearly physically limited but has picked up five hits (all singles) with three RBI in 18 trips to the plate.
Of course, Bichette’s focus for the next day or two will be fully on the World Series. He did address the injury before tonight’s Game 6, telling Ben-Nicholson Smith of Sportsnet that he does not expect he’ll need to undergo offseason surgery. Bichette suffered the injury in a collision at home plate with Yankees catcher Austin Wells on September 6. He was out of action for almost seven weeks before making his return for the Fall Classic.
Bichette would clearly still be on the injured list if this were the regular season. However, he has gotten to a point where he can hit and make routine defensive plays. The Jays moved him to second base while keeping Andrés Giménez at shortstop to slightly reduce his defensive workload. They used him as a designated hitter in Game 5 after George Springer tweaked his side. However, Springer has improbably returned for tonight’s game and is back at DH. Bichette heads out to the keystone again.
The 27-year-old infielder (28 in March) is days away from becoming a free agent for the first time in his career. He’s widely viewed as the second-best player in the class behind Kyle Tucker. The knee injury might add to the already present questions about how long he can be expected to stick at shortstop. There’ll be teams that prefer Bichette as a second baseman, but he’s an annual threat to lead the league in hits and is coming off a .311/.357/.483 batting line in the regular season.
Bichette spoke with Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic about his decision to play through the injury earlier this week. He acknowledged that he’s “not really expecting to make huge progress” in the healing process while he’s playing. Bichette nevertheless stated that he’d “risk it all” to win a World Series. He demurred on the free agency question this evening. Bichette admitted at today’s pregame media scrum that while he has thought about his future at times this season, he has “got a World Series to win” right now (video via TSN).
Hope him and his boys grab a ring tonight. Bring on The Hot Stove!!
Blue Jays about to win it since the Dodgers can’t hit. I remember during the summer my fellow Dodger fans were telling me that their bats would wake up.
I can’t tell if my eyes are playing tricks on me or if the Dodgers are actually making adjustments the second time around in the order. Everyone but Teo who the Dodgers should try to trade during the offseason.
If the Blue Jays resign Bichette it should be as a second baseman otherwise I wouldn’t be too upset if they let him walk in free agency. His history of injuries doesn’t make him worth the money he’ll be asking for.
He’d look great in a Braves uni. Yes I know I’m dreaming the impossible dream.
Not if he wears that uni to play SS.
Bo is a free agent so whatever team signs him will know he’s probably going to need knee surgery a week after signing him.