Bo Bichette Injury Update: Blue Jays star to begin running soon as he continues to progress with rehab from calf injury
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette continues to make steady progress with his rehab from the calf strain on his right leg which has kept him out of action for the past month.
According to MLB.com's Blue Jays reporter Keegan Matheson, Bichette is ready to start running within the next few days, while he has already started taking practice sessions for hitting and defense.
“The Blue Jays expect Bo Bichette to start running in the next 2-3 days, John Schneider says. He’s already doing some hitting and defensive drills in Dunedin,” Matheson said on X/Twitter.
Bichette has not been on the field since he was placed on the IL after injuring his right calf on July 19. He has played just 79 games for the Blue Jays this year, having already served a short spell on the sidelines a couple of months ago.
In 2023, Bo Bichette had an excellent season after picking up his second All-Star selection and finishing in the top 20 of the American League MVP voting for the third straight year. He ended the year with a .306/339/.475 slash line with an OPS of .814 in addition to 20 home runs and 73 RBIs.
However, the 2024 season has turned out quite differently for Bichette. He made a slow start before getting hot in May when he batted .280/.321/.410 with 28 hits, three home runs and 14 RBIs. Since then, he has been on a major slump and has only managed a .175/.236/.247 slash line without a single home and an OPS of under .500.
Blues Jays expected to trade Bo Bichette in offseason
The Toronto Blue Jays had a surprisingly bad season this year as they dropped out of the playoff chase before the trade deadline at the end of last month. They currently occupy last place in the AL East standings with a 58-67 record and have already initiated their plans for next year by dealing away quite a few players at the deadline.
Bo Bichette is expected to get traded during the offseason, as he has reportedly declined to commit his long-term future to the Blue Jays. Bichette earned a massive bump to salary this year, which is set to rise to over $17.5 million in 2025 before he heads into free agency.
Therefore, the Blue Jays will hope that Bichette gets into a hot run when he returns to the lineup, which could land them a better trade package for the shortstop at the end of the season.