Bo Bichette played his first game in a visiting uniform in Toronto on Monday and went hitless in his emotional return as a member of the New York Mets.
Bichette stepped up to bat in the top of the first to a loud ovation from the fans in Toronto, which he reciprocated by first waving to the crowd before stepping out of the batter’s box and taking off his helmet to salute the Toronto faithful. In the ensuing at-bat, Bichette flew out to deep right centre field.
Bichette grounded out in his second at-bat, then lined out sharply to right field in his third at-bat in the top of the sixth inning.
With two runners on and two outs in the top of the eighth, Bichette came up to hit after Juan Soto was intentionally walked and promptly grounded out to the pitcher to end the threat.
Before the first pitch was thrown, the team honoured Bichette with a tribute on the video board, and Bichette - watching with tears in his eyes - saluted the fans with a tip of his cap as they responded with a rousing ovation.
Speaking to reporters prior to first pitch, the 28-year-old paused to collect himself more than once as he fielded a variety of questions about his seven-year tenure with the Blue Jays from the visitors’ dugout.
When asked what kind of reception he expected from fans, Bichette began to answer before he paused to look out at the field, fighting back tears.
“I gave it everything I had,” he said. “I just hope that’s appreciated.”
Monday was Bichette’s first game back in Toronto since the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series. He said he hadn’t anticipated getting emotional during his pre-game media availability.
“I didn’t expect that, to be honest, but this is also the first time I’ve been out here, and the first time I’ve really talked to any of you guys,” he said. “I’m sure there’s a lot of things that are being brought on me at one time right now.”
Following the end of the 2025 season, Bichette became a free agent and signed a three-year, US$126-million deal with the Mets in January.
Before that, Bichette spent his entire MLB career in Toronto. The Blue Jays drafted the infielder in the second round in 2016, and he made his major-league debut in July of 2019.
Over seven seasons with the Blue Jays, Bichette, a two-time All-Star, batted .294 with 111 home runs, 437 RBIs and an .806 OPS in 748 games.
Bichette said it felt “different” to be back in Toronto.
“I’m excited to get out here and play some ball and see some guys,” said Bichette, who viewed his return as an opportunity to “reflect on good times, and just be grateful.”
Among the good times was last year’s Blue Jays’ run to the World Series. Bichette missed the majority of the post-season with a left knee injury, but made his return to the lineup during the World Series.
In Game 7, he hit a three-run home run in the third inning off Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani that gave Toronto an early lead before L.A. came back to win in extra innings.
“When I hit that home run, I had a moment by myself, kind of down in the tunnel, where I just was like, I couldn’t have drew it up better. Obviously, I hoped we would have won, but for me, just what I was going through up to that point, it was cool,” he said.
The Blue Jays went on to win the series opener 2-1 to snap a six-game losing streak.
