After missing nearly two months with a nagging calf injury, shortstop Bo Bichette began a rehab assignment with triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, going 1-for-3 with a single in his first game since July 19.
Bichette, who rejoined the Toronto Blue Jays last week to continue his rehab before meeting up with the Bisons, hit second while starting at shortstop against the Gwinnett Stripers — the Atlanta Braves’ triple-A affiliate.
The 26-year-old played four innings at shortstop before exiting after his final at-bat in the top of the fifth and was replaced by Josh Kasevich. He’s expected to participate in 4-5 rehab games split between short and DH before being activated off the IL, which is likely to occur prior to Toronto’s series opener against the Texas Rangers next Tuesday.
#Bluejays SS Bo Bichette is scheduled to begin an MLB rehab assignment with the Bisons tonight against the @GoStripers. pic.twitter.com/Bk1h2iEOp6
— Buffalo Bisons (@BuffaloBisons) September 10, 2024
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In his first at-bat, Bichette grounded out to former Blue Jay Cavan Biggio, acquired by the Braves last week in a minor-league trade from the San Francisco Giants. Next time up, the two-time All-Star lined a ball into left field for an 86-m.p.h. single with two outs in the third inning. He then grounded into an inning-ending double-play in the fifth, producing a hard-hit ball with an exit velocity of 100.9.
The right-handed-hitting shortstop defended the left side of the diamond behind starter Jake Bloss, who cruised through the first inning before a throwing error from the rehabbing infielder contributed to a six-run second that saw the former Houston Astros prospect surrender three hits — including a home run — a walk and a hit-by-pitch.
It was rough sailing from there on out for Buffalo, whose bullpen provided little support behind Bloss en route to a 13-2 blowout loss.
Between multiple IL trips and underwhelming offensive results, it’s been a miserable year for Bichette, who’s slashed .222/.275/.320 with four home runs, 30 RBIs and a 69 wRC+ in only 80 major-league games this season. As a result, he’s accounted for a career-low 0.2 fWAR, a significant decline from his 3.9 rating in 2023.
The superstar shortstop will enter the final season of his three-year, $33.6-million contract in ’25 and can become a free agent next winter.