Jays prospect Bichette keeps proving he’s ready for MLB
Young infielder hits two more home runs in Buffalo for toronto’s triple-a farm team
BOSTON It didn’t take long for Charlie Montoyo to realize how fierce the fire burns in Bo Bichette.
When the Toronto Blue Jays’ manager introduced himself to the infielder, now the team’s top-rated prospect, this spring in Florida, he smiled and told the kid to have fun.
“He said, ‘No, I’m competing for a job here,’” Montoyo recalled of that memorable first meeting. “That’s just who he is.”
So when Montoyo heard about Bichette’s rather pointed comments to Sportsnet’s David Singh earlier this week — his latest declaration to Jays management that he’s beyond ready for a promotion and would like answers as to why it hasn’t happened — his soon-to-be manager wasn’t rankled in the slightest.
“He’s not doing that because he’s cocky,” Montoyo said before Wednesday’s rain-delayed contest here against the Red Sox. “He’s confident. And you have to do that to play in the big leagues. You don’t want to take that away from the kid.”
There’s plenty to love about Bichette, including this: A day after social media got all fired up about his restless but completely understandable comments, the 21-year-old took to the field for the triple-a Buffalo Bisons and banged a pair of home runs.
Crazy as it is, his best play of the game probably wasn’t even at the plate. A charging, bare-handed grab from short and then a laser throw to first in the Bisons’ 9-6 win over the Charlotte Knights was borderline spectacular.
Those moments have come fast and furious for Bichette, who was sidelined with a broken hand on April 22, two days after his longtime minor-league prospect pal, Vlad Guerrero Jr., was summoned to the big team.
Since returning from that injury in early June, Bichette has sizzled at the plate, bringing his batting average up to .309 over the 46 triple-a games he has played this season. He’s good and, yes, he’s ready.
“He’s a great kid and works hard,” said Jays infielder Eric Sogard, who got to know Bichette in spring training and during the first couple of weeks of the season when both were in Buffalo. “He’s another one who wants to get better each and every day. He comes and asks questions.
“I see a lot of great talent in him. He’s going to be a great ballplayer at the major-league level for a long period of time.”
Like most major-leaguers, Sogard has been through what has to feel like an interminable wait to make it to the highest level. The system doesn’t fast-track many, a reality of the sport for decades.
“Continue to play the game,” Sogard said when asked what advice he would offer Bichette. “There will be a time and that time will come. He’s still young and there’s still things he can continue to learn and do on a daily basis, on a consistent basis.
“I think just showing up and having that positive attitude every day and not worrying about when that time is going to come — but knowing that time is going to come and preparing for it — I think is most important.”
All that said — and there are viable reasons Bichette remains in the minors despite the regular Buffalo-to-toronto shuffle — it’s not difficult to understand and appreciate a keenness bordering on patience from the talented young player.
He essentially grew up through the Jays’ farm system alongside Guerrero and Cavan Biggio, who have each taken advantage of their opportunity and are rapidly learning the ropes of the big leagues.
So when Rowdy Tellez was demoted on Sunday and Billy Mckinney was the body going back, perhaps Bichette was tired of biting his tongue.
“I’ve done everything they asked me to do,” Bichette told Singh, a more pointed variation of a plea he’s made in the past. “I’ve performed, I’ve put up numbers. I’ve got better offensively, defensively, baserunning, as an athlete, as a teammate. Everything they’ve asked me to do, I’ve done for the past three years.
“So, if I’m not ready in their mind, there’s something new that they need to tell me I need to get better at.”
The answer might truthfully be “not much.” As a triple-a manager for the better part of two decades, Montoyo has certainly seen his share of prospects lobbying hard for their case. And his message back to Bo would be relatively simple: Respect baseball’s sometimes long and winding road to the majors and, more importantly, don’t let the frustration take root.
“The moment you start worrying about getting here, your numbers go down,” Montoyo said. “I’ve seen that a lot in triple A. Just be patient and just keep doing your job.”
After dispensing of that advice, Montoyo coyly let it be known he’s ready to see Bichette in the majors. When asked if there would be enough work for him given the stellar play of Freddy Galvis at short, the manager was quick to the point.
“I’m pretty good at playing everybody,” Montoyo said. “I’ll find room for both of them.”