A tumultuous 2024 season tested Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette more than he ever thought possible.
"Honestly, I had a tough year, maybe the toughest year of my adult life, my baseball life," he said, according to Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun. "But I’m still standing. I’m still super grateful for the life that I have.
"I think going through tough times in your life and you’re still alive and still breathing and still have an opportunity to do what you’ve always dreamed of and accomplishing what you’ve always dreamed of, you kind of realize that (tough) stuff is not the end of the world."
Bichette, previously a beacon of consistency, struggled through injuries and poor performance last season.
The two-time All-Star hit an uncharacteristic .225/.277/.322 with just four home runs in 81 games in 2024. He graded as a below-average hitter by OPS+ (71) for the first time in his career.
While Bichette called failure "humbling," he believes his tough year has ultimately set him up to succeed in 2025.
"I feel that by going through that made me realize in a way how good I am," he said. "In a great way, it made me realize that I have nothing to fear because what I do is a blessing. I’m just really excited about going out there and trying to do something special this year."
Bichette's track record suggests an imminent return to form. During a three-year stretch from 2021-23, he led the American League in hits twice while maintaining an OPS of at least .802.
The 27-year-old, like his teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr., will be playing for a new contract as he is slated for free agency at season's end.
Bichette owns a career .290/.332/.466 slash line through six MLB campaigns.
