Blue Jays' Bo Bichette: 'back to being who I am'
Photo credit: https://www.stalbertgazette.com/national-sports
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette talks about getting back to who he was prior to his dismal 2024 season.
In 81 games last year Bo Bichette had a career-worst batting line of .225/.277/.322, two stints on the injured list due to a right calf strain and a middle finger fracture that required surgery to repair and prevented him from even attempting a positive-vibes finish.
In an interview with Sportsnet's Shi Davidi, Bo explained his collapse last year.
«When you reach a low point like I did last season, you realize that you're still living and breathing and everything's OK, so, honestly, I feel like myself again,» Bichette said, after batting practice on an unseasonably cool Florida morning. «The biggest thing is I feel like I have a clear mind. I'm able to go out here every day and try and get better, try to win when we play, so I feel good.»
He broke down why things played out the way they did; decided on the issues, largely centred around bat path, he needed to address in the cage; and thought about ways to restore the mindset he needs to succeed on the field.
On a macro level, last season's struggles were rooted in «being a little bit locked up mentally, for a variety of reasons that I won't get into.» Now with «a free mind,» he feels «back to being who I am, which is, I play free.»
«I've always done that,» he continued. «I've always gone up there and tried to hit the ball as hard as I can, trusting my work. Separating the cage from the game. It's not going to feel that good every day, but you can compete every day and you can give your best every day.»
In fact, the potential pivot point presented by the core's expiring contractual control will only amplify that dynamic, as each slump will force the front office to consider how to best manage the asset value of its pending free agents.
Avoiding the noise for all players, not just Bichette, will be even more challenging.
«I feel like that's some of the stuff I dealt with last year,» Bichette said. «There were things going on about me that I probably didn't handle the best in terms of rumours and things like that. I've learned from that. This year, I really am just focused on being the best that I can be and winning every day. That's all I've ever wanted to do, is come out here and compete at a high level and help my team win. I look forward to doing that.»
Bichette conceded that before the injuries hit last year, he fell into some «bad, bad habits» at the plate, with his bat path and rhythm front and centre.
Both of those elements are «everything, and I didn't have much rhythm, I didn't have a good bat path. Both those things will be better,» he said. «My swing will probably look different this year, but it will look more like a young Bo than anything.»
«I've always prided myself on being able to compete - no matter how my swing feels, no matter where my mind is at, I just focus on going competing my best and trying to win. And, to be honest, I didn't do a great job of that last year,» he added. «I know there are definitely mechanical things that I had to clean up. But, to be honest, I didn't compete at my best, that was the biggest thing.
«That's pretty much the key for me to be a not just a good big-league player, but someone who is really good every year.»
SOURCE: Sportsnet
Credit: Shi Davidi
Credit: Shi Davidi
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