Former MLB GM says Bo Bichette appears to be in 'best shape of his career'

One of the biggest reasons for the Blue Jays' struggles last year as a lack of production from Bo Bichette.

After leading the American League in hits in 2021 and '22 and earning his second career All-Star nod in 2023, Bichette only managed to .225/.277/.322 in 81 games due a variety of injuries.

Bichette is now entering his walk year and appears to be putting that in the rearview thanks to a strong start to the spring.

MLB Insider says Bichette 'look like he's in the best shape of his career'

In a new piece for the The Athletic (subscription required), former MLB general manager Jim Bowden went through all 30 MLB teams to identify one player on each team who's turning heads, where he identified Bichette as the player who's impressing at Blue Jays camp.

The Blue Jays were not able to extend Bichette or his teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. this offseason, meaning both of them could be heading to free agency after the season. Bichette, unlike Guerrero, is coming off his worst season as a big leaguer. He hit just .225 with four home runs while dealing with various injuries, including a broken middle finger. However, he’s still a career .290 hitter and 4+ WAR caliber player," Bowden writes.

This spring, he appears to be fully healthy and is sporting a new trimmed haircut. He might be in the best shape of his career and he looks focused. He’s only 27 and based on the early signs this spring, there’s a good chance he returns to playing at his accustomed level, which is as an All-Star and top-16 MVP type of player, like he was from 2021-23.

As Bowden wrote, Bichette seems to be healthy this year and is making the most of his opportunity. He's had a team-high 22 at-bats this spring and has a .364 average (eight hits) to go along with two doubles, a homer and three runs scored.

He had his best game this spring on Thursday when he went 3-for-4 against the Red Sox.

A healthy Bichette would be a huge bump to the Blue Jays as they try to make the postseason in what could be his last season with Toronto. Both he and fellow soon-to-be free agent Vladimir Guerrero Jr. should be motivated this season.

Elsewhere in the division, Bowden tabbed Curtis Mead as the Tampa Bay Ray who's impressed him the most, Austin Wells as the Yankee, Adley Rutschman as the Oriole and Trevor Story and Garrett Whitlock as the Red Sox' who have impressed the most.

That's a stacked list comprised of established veterans and promising young stars, which is a tangible example of how stacked the American League East could be this year.