Blue Jays: Bo Bichette- “For me, it’s about being the best in the game”

Bo Bichette has had an outstanding rookie season, but he has talked about never being satisfied, and a goal of being the best player in baseball.

If you’re looking for a franchise cornerstone, there are a few things you want to find. Talent would be at or near the top of the list, but as my high school volleyball coach used to say, “desire can defeat talent if you want it bad enough”.

For the Blue Jays and their shortstop of the present and the future, they might have a lethal combination in Bo Bichette.

Bichette has had a history-making first season in the big leagues, and it didn’t even start until the end of July. After being called up, the 21-year-old broke records in his first couple of weeks for multi-hit games and doubles collected to start a career, arriving at the highest level in pretty much the best way you could hope for.

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As good as he’s been, (he entered last night’s game with a slash line of .310/.356/.583 with 11 HR’s and 18 doubles in his first 187 at-bats) Bichette apparently isn’t satisfied, and that’s definitely a good thing for the Blue Jays as they look to put together the next playoff contender in Toronto.

The Blue Jays have been fortunate enough to have a young core coming together, arguably lead by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., formerly the top prospect in the game as a 19-year-old, and the AL Rookie-leader in hits at just 20. He hasn’t debuted with quite the same success as Bichette, but he’s consistently improved throughout the year, and looks like he could fulfill the hype and potential that he entered the league with.

As if having a talent like Vlad Jr. to build around isn’t good enough, Bichette looks like he could be equally as valuable, or if you ask him, maybe even more so.

During last night’s broadcast Buck Martinez and Pat Tabler talked about Bichette’s recent comments about his goals for his career, and they are lofty to say the least. In fact, Bichette wants to eventually be regarded as the best player in baseball, simply stating, “For me, it’s about being the best in the game”.

Martinez and Tabler talked about how offence had always come easier for Bichette as he’s progressed through the minor league system, and that the Blue Jays’ coaching staff has been impressed with not only where his defence is at the moment, but how hard he’s willing to work in order to improve. In order to be the best you have to outwork the best, and it sounds like Bichette’s willing to put in the work and then some, which is a great sign for a player who is still just 21 years old. Sure, he’s the son of a successful big leaguer, but that doesn’t guarantee anything.

Only time will tell if Bichette can push himself into the discussion for the best players in the game, but it’s a great sign that he’s set lofty goals like that for himself, and appears to understand what it’s going to take to get there. The fact that he’s surrounded by young teammates who are at a similar stage of their careers won’t hurt either, and hopefully these guys can push each other and bring out the best in one another.