Bo Bichette aggressiveness at the plate paying off as Blue Jays' leadoff hitter
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (11) celebrates in the dug out after hitting a lead off home run off Chicago White Sox pitcher Aaron Civale during first inning MLB baseball action in Toronto on Saturday June 21, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
TORONTO — In just seven weeks Bo Bichette has gone from no home runs to leading the Toronto Blue Jays in round trippers.
Bichette smashed the first pitch he saw over the wall in centre field on Saturday for his 11th homer of the year as Toronto routed the Chicago White Sox 7-1. The 27-year-old shortstop couldn't really explain what's changed for him since he hit his first homer on May 3 after not having any for the first 16 games of the Blue Jays' season.
'I think just every season is kind of different,' said Bichette. 'I started the year getting a lot of hits and competing really well with no power, and then started hitting for some power.
'I don't know. I mean, sometimes it just takes one to kind of understand the feeling and then go through the season and try to put it all together.'
Just 76 games into the season and Bichette's already matched or exceeded the home run output in three of his other seasons (2019, 2020, 2024). His best-ever year for power at the plate was when he had 29 homers in 2021.
He moved ahead of George Springer (10) for most home runs on the Blue Jays this season with his first-inning blast on Saturday.
'I'm just trying to go out there and compete every day and do as best I can,' said Bichette.
The 35-year-old Springer, who batted fifth on Saturday, has been a leadoff hitter for most of his 12 years in Major League Baseball. Springer's 60 leadoff home runs are second on the all-time list behind Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson (81).
Bichette said that Springer's been giving him some advice on how to hit for power when leading off.
'He's one of the best of all time to do it and he's helped me,' said Bichette, who has two leadoff homers in the past four games. 'Most of it has been how to manage knowing you're probably getting a fastball and maybe not being too excited about it but also being ready for it.'
Toronto manager John Schneider said that as much as Springer has helped, Bichette's also just a natural.
'Bo can do that, he's that talented of a hitter,' said Schneider. 'The leadoff spot is a tricky one, because you're probably gonna get a first pitch fastball.
'You have to be kind of on time and do your homework a little bit.'
BERRIOS DELIVERS — Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios (3-3) allowed one unearned run on two hits and three walks over 7 2/3 innings, striking out five.
The quality start was critical after Toronto used seven relief pitchers in Friday's 7-1 loss, a scheduled bullpen day. Berrios threw 95 pitches and earned a standing ovation from the 41,488 fans at Rogers Centre when he left the game in the eighth inning.
'I came in today having that on my mind, but also it's my day,' said Berrios. 'This is my job, and that's my goal, trying to be longer in the game.
'I was able to throw seven and two outs today, and I helped, so I'm happy.'
Schneider was impressed with how varied Berrios's arsenal of pitches were in the outing.
'He's using both sides of the plate, good mix of his pitches, stick in his heater when he needs to,' said Schneider. 'The strikeouts late, I think were huge for him, too.
'He's been consistent all year, and today was exactly what we needed.'
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2025.
John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Zach Collaros makes season debut in Blue Bombers 27-14 win over B.C. Lions
Thirteen seasons into his CFL career, Zach Collaros isn't taking football for granted. So when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback ran out of the tunnel for his first game of the season on Saturday, he made sure to soak in the atmosphere. "When you're younger, you think you're gonna do it forever," said Collaros, who threw for 179 yards and two touchdowns as the Bombers thumped the B.C. Lions 27-14. "I still feel good and think that I'm gonna do it forever. I know at some point it's gonna come to an end, but I don't think anytime soon. But I think as you get older, you gain a little more wisdom and things like that, and you try to just cherish every moment and just be present all the time." The 36-year-old American was suspended for Winnipeg's first game of the season — a 34-20 win over B.C. — last week for failing to respond to an off-season drug-testing request. Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea said he was "so happy" to see his No. 1 quarterback on the field Saturday. "When football gets taken away — and it doesn't matter what for — it hurts the guys," he said. "So to see him back playing, doing something he loves to do, and being in a spot that he feels really comfortable at, I'm more excited for the man." Collaros wasted no time finding his form. Just over seven minutes into Saturday's game, the veteran escaped the pocket under pressure and hurled a rainbow into the far corner of the end zone where Dalton Schoen jumped up to make the grab. The 15-yard touchdown pass capped a 72-yard, 12-play scoring drive. "Not playing for a long time, you don't doubt yourself, obviously, but it's nice to know I can still do this," Collaros said of the play. He connected on 18 of his 25 attempts across the night and had two interceptions. On the other side of the ball, Jeremiah Masoli was 25-for-44, passing for 281 yards with one major and two interceptions in his first-ever start for the Lions (1-2). "Definitely room for improvement," the 36-year-old American said of the performance. "It was good to be out there and just putting some long drives together with the boys. But the opportunities that we had and missed, we've got to be able to cash in on those versus a good team." Masoli replaced Nathan Rourke as starter after Rourke suffered a core injury last week. The Canadian QB dressed for the rematch, but spent the game on the sidelines wearing a ball cap instead of his helmet. Winnipeg (2-0) was also without one of its stars as Brady Oliveira sat out with a shoulder injury he picked up against the Lions. Sergio Castillo made good on two field goals for the visitors, including a 55-yard strike, and Sean Whyte kicked two for B.C. His longest of the night was 43 yards. Interceptions plagued both sides, but the Bombers were better able to capitalize on the picks Saturday. Midway through the second quarter, Masoli -- who signed with the Lions as a free agent in February — tossed a harried pass to running back James Butler, who fumbled the ball. Jamal Parker was there to pick it up and sprint 57 yards the other way for the Bombers' second major of the night. Castillo hit the convert and Winnipeg took a 17-3 lead. With the Lions down 20-6 early in the fourth quarter, Masoli sailed a pass to Ayden Eberhardt deep in the end zone, only to see it picked off by Evan Holm. B.C. challenged the play, saying there was no catch, but a review upheld the call on the field. "Once again, we took points off the board down deep, surefire points," O'Shea said. On the next drive, Collaros chucked a pass way up field to Keric Wheatfall for a 48-yard gain. The Bombers continued to build and Collaros capped the drive with a five-yard dish to offensive lineman Tui Eli in the end zone. Another convert from Castillo gave Winnipeg a 27-6 advantage. The Lions refused to go quietly, though. Late in the fourth quarter, Robert Carter Jr. nabbed Collaros' pass inside Winnipeg territory and the Lions capitalized, with Masoli firing a seven-yard dart to Jevon Cottoy just over the goal line. The QB then handed off to Butler, who rushed in for a two-point convert that sealed the score at 27-14. "That was big, for sure. We wanted to for our pride, just to know that we can get it in there," Masoli said. "Obviously we marched down a couple times and weren't able to get it in. "It changes the complexion of a game when you're not able to score and give some help to your defence. But there's some good stuff we did tonight that we can build on. And that was one of them."
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
Canadian midfielder Osorio sustains lower-body injury at CONCACAF Gold Cup
Veteran midfielder Jonathan Osorio has left the Canada camp at the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a lower-body injury. Canada Soccer, in a social media post, said the Toronto FC captain will miss the rest of the tournament. The injury occurred in training the day before Canada's 1-1 draw with Curacao on Saturday in Houston. "Oso will return to Toronto FC today for further evaluation," it said in a social media post Sunday. The TFC captain cannot be replaced on Canada's tournament roster at this point. With 85 caps, the 33-year-old Osorio was the most experienced member of coach Jesse Marsch's squad. He had yet to play at the tournament. Osorio was sidelined with a shoulder injury April 30 in a Canadian Championship loss to CF Montreal, returning May 24 off the Toronto bench in an MLS game against Nashville SC. He was added to Marsch's Canadian Shield Tournament squad, playing 62 minutes in the penalty shootout loss to Ivory Coast. The 30th-ranked Canadians (1-0-1) wrap up Group B play at the Gold Cup on Tuesday against No. 81 El Salvador (0-1-1) in Houston. Canada roster Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS) Tom McGill, Brighton & Hove Albion (England) Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United (MLS) Defenders Sam Adekugbe, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS) Derek Cornelius, Olympique de Marseille (France) Luc De Fougerolles, Fulham (England) Jamie Knight-Lebel, Bristol City (England) Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS) Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland) Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS) Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia) Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS) Midfielders Ali Ahmed, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS) Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy) Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland) Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal) Ismael Kone, Olympique de Marseille (France) Jayden Nelson, Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS) Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS) Nathan Saliba, CF Montreal (MLS) Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS) Forwards Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France) Promise David, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium) Daniel Jebbison, AFC Bournemouth (England) Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain) Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS)
National Post
2 hours ago
- National Post
Osorio returns to Toronto after suffering lower-body injury training with Canada
HOUSTON — Veteran midfielder Jonathan Osorio has left the Canada camp at the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a lower-body injury. Article content Canada Soccer, in a social media post, said the Toronto FC captain will miss the rest of the tournament. The injury occurred in training the day before Canada's 1-1 draw with Curacao on Saturday. Article content Article content 'Oso will return to Toronto FC today for further evaluation,' it said in a social media post Sunday. Article content With 85 caps, the 33-year-old Osorio was the most experienced member of coach Jesse Marsch's squad. He had yet to play at the tournament. Article content Osorio was sidelined with a shoulder injury April 30 in a Canadian Championship loss to CF Montreal, returning May 24 off the Toronto bench in an MLS game against Nashville SC. Article content
