The Toronto Blue Jays posted an astounding combined 23 runs in two playoff games against the New York Yankees and the fact that one of their best bats has been sidelined makes that all the more impressive.
The team ruled out franchise shortstop Bo Bichette for the series after he suffered a knee injury near the end of the regular season, which sidelined him while he was serving as Major League Baseball’s total hits leader during a resurgent offensive campaign.
Now the Blue Jays are left to hope Bichette might return if the team reaches the American League Championship Series or perhaps the World Series, but that seems far from guaranteed at this point. The latest concerning decision on Bichette’s rehab saw him stay behind in Toronto to continue his rehab.
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“Shortstop Bo Bichette did not travel with the Blue Jays to New York, remaining in Toronto to continue his rehab from a sprained left knee,” Gregor Chisholm reported for the Toronto Star. “There are still several hurdles that Bichette must clear, including running the bases and hitting high velocity pitches. By skipping New York, he gets to take advantage of the Jays’ rehab services at the Rogers Centre.”
Bichette might be able to hasten his recovery by sticking near the team’s facilities, but the fact that he has not yet progressed to baserunning should be turning some heads among Blue Jays fans. Manager John Schneider didn’t provide any kind of specific timeline in a brief update on Bichette’s status.
“He’s still progressing,” Schnieder said, per Chisholm. “He’s back in Toronto … trying to ramp up, doing everything he can to kind of get himself ready.”
The Blue Jays have had some initial playoff success without Bichette in the lineup and it seems like the team will have to continue on without him for the foreseeable future.