MLB The Show blatantly disrespects Bo Bichette in 2024 overall player rankings

With MLB Opening Day just around the corner, so too is the release of the newest edition of MLB The Show. For Jays fans, this year will be a little extra special, as star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is set to grace the cover of the video game. This is the first time since 2016 that a Blue Jay has done that, when Josh Donaldson was featured after winning the American League MVP the year prior. Despite the respect for Vladdy, not all Blue Jays are being given the royal treatment at the release of the new game.

Bo Bichette, one of the top shortstops in baseball and arguably the best all around player on the Blue Jays, was given a rating of 89 by the people at San Diego Studio, the development team responsible for MLB The Show. While that's still a respectable rating, one would think he'd be the highest on the team. That's not the case, as Vladdy and Kevin Gausman both sit at a 90 overall, tied for tops on the team.

Bichette was given credit for his contact ability, however. Those attributes, against both righties and lefties, grade out at 95 and 99 respectively. These should come as know surprise, as his career batting averages against both sides come in at a .294 and .321. Where Bo may be knocked in his rating is his defence.

Despite improving in that regard year to year, Bichette isn't considered by many to be "above average" defensively. He's bound to make some highlight reel plays, a credit to his immense athleticism and instincts, but his glove is never the first thing thought of when talking about the stud shortstop.

MLB The Show's player rating engine takes defence into account differently depending what the players primary position is. Someone like Vlad, despite having a Gold Glove to his name, may not have his overall affected as much by his defence rating as he is a first baseman. It's likely that Bichette is a victim of this, as even an average defensive short-stop could see a surprsingly low overall in the video game due to their defence attributes, despite of their skill with the bat.

Regardless, Bichette remains one of the games best shortstops. You can play as him and the rest of the Blue Jays when MLB The Show 24 releases on March 19th.