%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201443.9%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%201443.9%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23231F20%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%23134A8E%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%09.st3%7Bfill%3A%23E8291C%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M75%2C7.9v143.5c0%2C26.8-21.8%2C48.6-48.6%2C48.6H7.9c-4.4%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9v-34.2c0-4.4%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h9.2%0A%09%09c4.4%2C0%2C7.9-3.5%2C7.9-7.9V7.9c0-4.3%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h34.2C71.5%2C0.1%2C75%2C3.6%2C75%2C7.9z%20M53.2%2C14.8c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8%0A%09%09c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8v136.7c0%2C11.5-9.3%2C20.8-20.8%2C20.8H14.4c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8s1.2%2C2.8%2C2.8%2C2.8h12.4%0A%09%09c14.6%2C0%2C26.4-11.8%2C26.4-26.4V14.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M221.8%2C197.7c-1.2%2C1.5-3%2C2.3-4.9%2C2.3h-36.9c-3.7%2C0-7-2.6-7.7-6.3l-3.3-16.1c-0.4-1.8-2-3.2-3.9-3.2h-26.4%0A%09%09c-1.9%2C0-3.5%2C1.3-3.9%2C3.2l-3.1%2C15.9c-0.7%2C3.7-4%2C6.4-7.7%2C6.4H87.4c-1.9%2C0-3.7-0.8-4.9-2.3c-1.2-1.5-1.7-3.4-1.3-5.2L117.3%2C6.4%0A%09%09c0.7-3.7%2C4-6.4%2C7.7-6.4h52.4c3.7%2C0%2C7%2C2.6%2C7.7%2C6.3l38%2C186.1C223.5%2C194.3%2C223%2C196.2%2C221.8%2C197.7z%20M197.4%2C191.5%0A%09%09c0.5-0.6%2C0.7-1.5%2C0.6-2.3L163.9%2C22.3H135l-32.3%2C166.9c-0.3%2C1.5%2C0.7%2C2.9%2C2.2%2C3.2c1.5%2C0.3%2C2.9-0.7%2C3.2-2.1l7.4-37.9h69.3l7.8%2C37.9%0A%09%09c0.3%2C1.3%2C1.4%2C2.2%2C2.7%2C2.2C196.1%2C192.5%2C196.8%2C192.1%2C197.4%2C191.5z%20M159.3%2C27.9l24.3%2C118.9h-67.1l23.1-118.9H159.3z%20M156.3%2C124.5%0A%09%09c0.5%2C0%2C0.9-0.2%2C1.2-0.6c0.3-0.4%2C0.4-0.8%2C0.3-1.3l-4.6-36.7c-0.2-0.7-0.8-1.3-1.6-1.3c-0.8%2C0-1.4%2C0.5-1.5%2C1.3l-4.4%2C36.7%0A%09%09c-0.1%2C0.5%2C0%2C0.9%2C0.3%2C1.3c0.3%2C0.4%2C0.7%2C0.6%2C1.2%2C0.6L156.3%2C124.5L156.3%2C124.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M335.5%2C2.7c1.2%2C1.7%2C1.5%2C3.9%2C0.7%2C5.8l-43.6%2C118c-0.6%2C1.7-1%2C3.6-1%2C5.5v60c0%2C4.4-3.5%2C7.9-7.9%2C7.9h-34.2%0A%09%09c-4.3%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9v-60c0-1.9-0.3-3.7-1-5.5l-43.6-118c-0.7-1.9-0.4-4.1%2C0.7-5.8C199%2C1%2C201%2C0%2C203%2C0h38.8%0A%09%09c3.3%2C0%2C6.2%2C2.1%2C7.4%2C5.1l16%2C57.3c0.2%2C0.6%2C0.8%2C1%2C1.5%2C1c0.7%2C0%2C1.3-0.4%2C1.5-1l16-57.3c1.1-3.1%2C4.1-5.1%2C7.4-5.1h38.8%0A%09%09C332.4%2C0%2C334.4%2C1%2C335.5%2C2.7z%20M310%2C15.7c0.4-0.9%2C0.2-2-0.4-2.8c-0.6-0.8-1.7-1.2-2.6-1c-1%2C0.2-1.8%2C0.9-2.1%2C1.9l-38%2C102.9L228.7%2C13.8%0A%09%09c-0.3-1-1.1-1.7-2.1-1.9c-1-0.2-2%2C0.2-2.7%2C1c-0.6%2C0.8-0.8%2C1.9-0.4%2C2.8l40.5%2C109.5v61.2c0%2C1.5%2C1.2%2C2.8%2C2.8%2C2.8s2.8-1.2%2C2.8-2.8%0A%09%09v-61.2L310%2C15.7L310%2C15.7z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M460.2%2C134.4V151c0%2C26.8-21.8%2C48.6-48.6%2C48.6h-65c-4.4%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9v-34.2c0-4.3%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h55.8%0A%09%09c4.3%2C0%2C7.9-3.5%2C7.9-7.9v-2.1c0-2.8-1.5-5.4-3.9-6.8l-45.7-26.7c-14.9-8.7-24-24.7-24.1-42V48.7c0-26.8%2C21.8-48.6%2C48.6-48.6h53.2%0A%09%09c4.3%2C0%2C7.9%2C3.5%2C7.9%2C7.9v34.2c0%2C4.3-3.5%2C7.9-7.9%2C7.9h-44c-4.4%2C0-7.9%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9v1c0%2C2.8%2C1.5%2C5.4%2C3.9%2C6.8l45.6%2C26.7%0A%09%09C451%2C101.2%2C460.2%2C117.1%2C460.2%2C134.4z%20M438.5%2C134.4c0-9.4-5-18-13.1-22.8l-50.2-29.4c-6.4-3.7-10.3-10.6-10.3-18V48.7%0A%09%09c0-11.5%2C9.3-20.8%2C20.8-20.8h43.6c1.5%2C0%2C2.8-1.2%2C2.8-2.8c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8h-43.6c-14.6%2C0-26.4%2C11.8-26.4%2C26.4v15.6%0A%09%09c0%2C9.4%2C5%2C18%2C13.1%2C22.8l50.2%2C29.4c6.4%2C3.7%2C10.3%2C10.6%2C10.3%2C18v16.7c0%2C11.5-9.3%2C20.8-20.8%2C20.8h-60c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8%0A%09%09s1.2%2C2.8%2C2.8%2C2.8h60c14.6%2C0%2C26.4-11.8%2C26.4-26.4V134.4z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M613.7%2C7.9v143.5c0%2C26.8-21.8%2C48.6-48.6%2C48.6h-18.5c-4.4%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9v-34.2c0-4.4%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h9.2%0A%09%09c4.4%2C0%2C7.9-3.5%2C7.9-7.9V7.9c0-4.3%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h34.2C610.2%2C0.1%2C613.7%2C3.6%2C613.7%2C7.9z%20M592%2C14.8c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8%0A%09%09c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8v136.7c0%2C11.5-9.3%2C20.8-20.8%2C20.8h-12.4c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8s1.2%2C2.8%2C2.8%2C2.8h12.4%0A%09%09c14.6%2C0%2C26.4-11.8%2C26.4-26.4V14.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M759%2C100c0%2C12.9-0.3%2C26-1%2C38.9c-1.7%2C34.2-30%2C61.1-64.3%2C61.1h-2.2c-34.2%2C0-62.4-26.8-64.3-60.9%0A%09%09c-0.7-12.9-1.1-26.1-1.1-39c0-13%2C0.4-26.1%2C1.1-39.1c1.9-34.1%2C30.1-60.8%2C64.3-60.9h2.2c34.3-0.1%2C62.6%2C26.8%2C64.3%2C61.1%0A%09%09C758.7%2C74%2C759%2C87.1%2C759%2C100z%20M737.7%2C137.8c0.6-12.5%2C0.9-25.2%2C0.9-37.8s-0.3-25.2-0.9-37.8c-1.1-22.4-19.7-40-42.1-40h-2.2%0A%09%09c-22.4%2C0-40.9%2C17.5-42.1%2C39.9c-0.7%2C12.5-1.1%2C25.3-1.1%2C37.8c0%2C12.6%2C0.4%2C25.3%2C1.1%2C37.8c1.2%2C22.4%2C19.7%2C39.9%2C42.1%2C39.9h2.2%0A%09%09C718.1%2C177.8%2C736.6%2C160.2%2C737.7%2C137.8L737.7%2C137.8z%20M732.2%2C62.5c0.6%2C12.4%2C0.9%2C25%2C0.9%2C37.5c0%2C12.4-0.3%2C25.1-0.9%2C37.5%0A%09%09c-1%2C19.5-17.1%2C34.7-36.6%2C34.7h-2.2c-19.4%2C0-35.5-15.2-36.5-34.7c-0.7-12.4-1.1-25-1.1-37.5s0.4-25.1%2C1.1-37.5%0A%09%09c1.1-19.4%2C17.1-34.6%2C36.5-34.7h2.2C715.1%2C27.8%2C731.2%2C43.1%2C732.2%2C62.5z%20M709%2C100c0-12.1-0.3-24.3-0.9-36.4%0A%09%09C707.7%2C56%2C701.4%2C50%2C693.8%2C50h-2.2c-7.7%2C0-14%2C6-14.4%2C13.7c-0.7%2C12-1%2C24.2-1%2C36.3c0%2C12%2C0.3%2C24.2%2C1%2C36.3c0.4%2C7.6%2C6.7%2C13.6%2C14.4%2C13.7%0A%09%09h2.2c7.6%2C0%2C14-5.9%2C14.4-13.6C708.7%2C124.3%2C709%2C112.1%2C709%2C100z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M894.9%2C2.3c1.5%2C1.5%2C2.3%2C3.5%2C2.3%2C5.6v127.8c0%2C34.1-26.5%2C63.1-60.5%2C64.3c-17%2C0.6-33.6-5.7-45.9-17.6%0A%09%09c-12.3-11.8-19.2-28.1-19.3-45.2V7.9c0-4.4%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h34.2c4.3%2C0%2C7.9%2C3.5%2C7.9%2C7.9v128.7c-0.1%2C7.3%2C5.8%2C13.3%2C13.1%2C13.4%0A%09%09c7-0.1%2C12.5-5.8%2C12.6-12.8V7.9c0-4.3%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h34.2C891.4%2C0%2C893.4%2C0.9%2C894.9%2C2.3z%20M874.9%2C14.7c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8%0A%09%09c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8v122.5c0%2C9.4-3.8%2C18.4-10.5%2C25c-6.7%2C6.6-15.8%2C10.2-25.2%2C10c-19.4-0.7-34.7-16.8-34.4-36.1V14.7%0A%09%09c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8v122.5c0%2C11.1%2C4.6%2C21.7%2C12.6%2C29.4c8%2C7.7%2C18.9%2C11.7%2C29.9%2C11.2%0A%09%09c21.9-1.4%2C38.9-19.7%2C38.7-41.7L874.9%2C14.7z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1037.3%2C189.3c0.9%2C2.4%2C0.6%2C5.1-0.9%2C7.3c-1.5%2C2.1-3.9%2C3.4-6.5%2C3.4h-36.6c-3.3%2C0-6.2-2-7.4-5.1L970%2C152.5%0A%09%09c-0.6-1.5-2-2.5-3.7-2.5h-2.8c-1%2C0-2.1%2C0.4-2.8%2C1.2c-0.7%2C0.7-1.2%2C1.7-1.2%2C2.8v38.2c0%2C4.3-3.5%2C7.9-7.9%2C7.9h-34.2%0A%09%09c-4.4%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9V7.9c0-4.4%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h71.4C1014-0.1%2C1035%2C19%2C1037.3%2C44c1%2C10.1%2C1.5%2C20.4%2C1.5%2C30.6%0A%09%09c0%2C10.5-0.5%2C21.1-1.5%2C31.5c-1.1%2C12.4-7%2C23.9-16.5%2C32.1c-1.3%2C1.1-1.7%2C2.8-1.2%2C4.4L1037.3%2C189.3z%20M1016.7%2C74.6c0-9.5-0.5-19-1.4-28.5%0A%09%09c-1.3-13.5-12.7-23.9-26.3-23.8H932v162.7c0%2C1.5%2C1.2%2C2.8%2C2.8%2C2.8c1.5%2C0%2C2.8-1.2%2C2.8-2.8v-57.3l47.9%2C0.1l21.9%2C58.3%0A%09%09c0.4%2C1.1%2C1.5%2C1.8%2C2.6%2C1.8c0.9%2C0%2C1.8-0.4%2C2.3-1.2c0.5-0.8%2C0.6-1.7%2C0.3-2.6l-21.2-56.4c12.7-1%2C22.8-11%2C24-23.7%0A%09%09C1016.3%2C94.2%2C1016.7%2C84.4%2C1016.7%2C74.6z%20M1009.8%2C46.6c0.9%2C9.3%2C1.3%2C18.7%2C1.3%2C28c0%2C9.6-0.4%2C19.3-1.3%2C28.8c-1%2C10.6-9.9%2C18.7-20.5%2C18.8%0A%09%09l-0.1-0.1l-0.4%2C0.2l-51.3-0.1V27.9h51.5C999.8%2C27.8%2C1008.8%2C36%2C1009.8%2C46.6z%20M988.2%2C92.5c0.4-6%2C0.6-12%2C0.5-17.9%0A%09%09c0-5.7-0.2-11.4-0.6-17.1c-0.3-4.2-3.7-7.4-7.9-7.4h-16.8c-2.2%2C0-3.9%2C1.8-3.9%2C3.9v42c0%2C2.2%2C1.8%2C3.9%2C3.9%2C3.9l16.8%2C0%0A%09%09C984.5%2C100%2C987.9%2C96.7%2C988.2%2C92.5L988.2%2C92.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1176.9%2C7.9v184.2c0%2C4.3-3.5%2C7.9-7.9%2C7.9h-31.5c-3.1%2C0-5.9-1.8-7.1-4.6l-26.1-56.4c-0.3-0.7-1-1-1.8-0.9%0A%09%09c-0.7%2C0.2-1.2%2C0.8-1.2%2C1.5v52.4c0%2C4.3-3.5%2C7.9-7.9%2C7.9h-34.2c-4.4%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9V7.9c0-4.3%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h30.8%0A%09%09c3.1%2C0%2C5.9%2C1.8%2C7.1%2C4.6l26.8%2C57.9c0.3%2C0.7%2C1.1%2C1%2C1.8%2C0.9c0.7-0.2%2C1.2-0.8%2C1.2-1.5v-54c0-4.3%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h34.2%0A%09%09C1173.3%2C0%2C1176.9%2C3.6%2C1176.9%2C7.9z%20M1153.4%2C14.7c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8v155.2l-68.4-147.6h-7.3v165.5%0A%09%09c0%2C1.5%2C1.2%2C2.8%2C2.8%2C2.8c1.5%2C0%2C2.8-1.2%2C2.8-2.8V31.7l67.7%2C146.1h8V14.7z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1330%2C197.7c-1.2%2C1.5-3%2C2.3-4.9%2C2.3h-36.9c-3.7%2C0-7-2.6-7.7-6.3l-3.3-16.1c-0.4-1.8-2-3.2-3.9-3.2h-26.4%0A%09%09c-1.9%2C0-3.5%2C1.3-3.9%2C3.2l-3.1%2C15.9c-0.7%2C3.7-4%2C6.4-7.7%2C6.4h-36.8c-1.9%2C0-3.7-0.8-4.9-2.3c-1.2-1.5-1.7-3.4-1.3-5.2l36.1-186.1%0A%09%09c0.7-3.7%2C4-6.4%2C7.7-6.4h52.4c3.7%2C0%2C7%2C2.6%2C7.7%2C6.3l38%2C186.1C1331.7%2C194.3%2C1331.2%2C196.2%2C1330%2C197.7z%20M1305.6%2C191.5%0A%09%09c0.5-0.6%2C0.7-1.5%2C0.6-2.3l-34.1-166.8h-28.9l-32.3%2C166.9c-0.3%2C1.5%2C0.7%2C2.9%2C2.2%2C3.2c1.5%2C0.3%2C2.9-0.7%2C3.2-2.1l7.4-37.9h69.3l7.8%2C37.9%0A%09%09c0.3%2C1.3%2C1.4%2C2.2%2C2.7%2C2.2C1304.3%2C192.5%2C1305%2C192.1%2C1305.6%2C191.5z%20M1267.5%2C27.9l24.3%2C118.9h-67.1l23.1-118.9H1267.5z%20M1264.5%2C124.5%0A%09%09c0.5%2C0%2C0.9-0.2%2C1.2-0.6c0.3-0.4%2C0.4-0.8%2C0.3-1.3l-4.6-36.7c-0.2-0.7-0.8-1.3-1.6-1.3c-0.8%2C0-1.4%2C0.5-1.5%2C1.3l-4.4%2C36.7%0A%09%09c-0.1%2C0.5%2C0%2C0.9%2C0.3%2C1.3c0.3%2C0.4%2C0.8%2C0.6%2C1.2%2C0.6L1264.5%2C124.5L1264.5%2C124.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M1443.9%2C157.9v34.2c0%2C4.3-3.5%2C7.9-7.9%2C7.9h-84.2c-4.4%2C0-7.9-3.5-7.9-7.9V7.9c0-4.4%2C3.5-7.9%2C7.9-7.9h34.2%0A%09%09c4.3%2C0%2C7.9%2C3.5%2C7.9%2C7.9v138.2c0%2C2.2%2C1.8%2C3.9%2C3.9%2C3.9h38.2C1440.3%2C150%2C1443.9%2C153.5%2C1443.9%2C157.9z%20M1432.8%2C175%0A%09%09c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8h-57.5v-158c0-1.5-1.2-2.8-2.8-2.8c-1.5%2C0-2.8%2C1.2-2.8%2C2.8v163.6h63.1C1431.6%2C177.8%2C1432.8%2C176.6%2C1432.8%2C175%0A%09%09z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st3%22%20points%3D%22543.5%2C98.3%20550.4%2C79.4%20522.9%2C93.2%20529.8%2C65.7%20516.1%2C72.6%20509.2%2C58.8%20502.3%2C72.6%20488.6%2C65.7%20%0A%09%09495.5%2C93.2%20468%2C79.4%20474.9%2C98.3%20468%2C106.9%20490.6%2C118.2%20485.1%2C134.4%20505.8%2C128.5%20505.8%2C132.8%20505.8%2C141.3%20512.6%2C141.3%20512.6%2C132.8%20%0A%09%09512.6%2C128.5%20533.2%2C134.4%20527.8%2C118.2%20550.4%2C106.9%20%09%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
3 Blue Jays players with the best chance at making the All-Star Game
The Blue Jays were heavily featured in the first round of All-Star Game voting, but which three players are likeliest to make it into the event?
By Eric Treuden
Shortstop Bo Bichette
Bo Bichette is as close to a "sure thing" as there is on the Blue Jays' roster. While he is still working to earn the face of the franchise title that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. currently holds, Bichette has been rock solid this year and is all but guaranteed to make the All-Star Game. While he may not be the starting shortstop, he's surely going to make it in a backup capacity at the very least.
Through 81 games this year, Bichette has been an offensive juggernaut for the Jays. He currently tops the charts in the AL for hits with 110 and also has an AL-leading .319 batting average heading into the day. He has 20 doubles and 14 home runs to go along with 48 runs batted in, an .852 OPS and an OPS+ of 136, which would be the highest of his career if the season ended today.
Up against some of the other top (qualified) shortstops in the American League, Bichette is currently first in home runs, runs batted in, batting average, OBP, SLG and wRC+.
We all know what Bichette is capable of doing with a bat in his hands. Time and time again, he comes through in the clutch and blends small-ball in with home runs perfectly. However, what only furthers his value this year in particular is his defense at shortstop, which finally seems to be turning a corner.
Last year, Bichette was one of the very worst defenders in all of baseball. His dWAR sat at -0.8, his Outs Above Average put him in the seventh percentile in the league, and he just did not appear to be comfortable playing this demanding position on a nightly basis. This year, his OAA is up a bit, as he now resides in the 18th percentile and his dWAR is up to 0.7, which is a fairly dramatic increase from the 2022 mark. This is without mentioning that he has seen his Defensive Runs Saved count go from -16 a year ago, to 2 today.
The improvements are noticeable across the board and now that he is able to pair a decent glove with an elite bat, he is surely going to make his way to the All-Star Game for the second time in his career.