MLB Prospect Preview: Bo Bichette
Photo: Terrance Williams/MiLB.com
We’re another week closer to the beginning of Major League Baseball and it’s time to take a look at another top prospect. For the last month and a half, I have been previewing an MLB prospect that should make his mark in the big leagues this upcoming season. Last week we looked at shortstop Brendan Rodgers for the Colorado Rockies. This week we will stay at the position and look at the first of two Toronto Blue Jays top prospects (I’m sure you won’t be able to guess who the other one will be). The son of former big league all-star Dante Bichette, Bo Bichette is a player who a lot of scouts are very excited about.
Photo: Kim Klement/USA Today Sports
Bo Bichette
SS
Toronto Blue Jays
Bo Bichette was drafted in the 2nd round (66th overall) in the 2016 MLB Draft. Like so many other prospects I’ve previewed already, Bichette is known for his pure hitting ability. Grading out at an exceptional 65/80 for hitting ability, the Blue Jays expect him to be a mainstay in the middle of their order for a long time. Ever since being drafted by the Jays, Bichette has done nothing but hit. In 2016 he hit .427 in the shortened rookie-ball season, in 2017 (his first full minor league season) he hit .362 between both classes of Single-A, and last year spent the entire season in Double-A where he hit .286. He found himself in his first career slump last season, but worked his way through it to lead the Eastern League in hits (154), doubles (43), extra base hits (61), runs scored (95), and total bases (244) as the league’s second youngest player.
Scouts have been impressed with the approach from Bo Bichette at the plate, especially given his young age. He’s got a special competitive edge about him every time he enters the batter’s box, where he just wants to beat the pitcher. While he makes sure he doesn’t get cheated with his swings early in the count, he knows how to shorten up with two strikes and does this very well. He’s listed at 6’ tall and 200 lbs., but the power he generates is far greater than his size would indicate. I expect him to consistently hit between 25-30 home runs at the big league level once he settles in. His speed grades out as average, 50/80, but he makes up for it on the basepaths with his incredible instincts. This is evidenced by his 32 steals last season, which was good for second in the entire Eastern League.
One thing the Blue Jays wanted Bichette to work on over the past year was his defensive skills. He’s certainly not a bad defender in the slightest, but to be a successful major league shortstop it takes above average skills. After putting in a lot of effort to improve his footwork and backhand ability, the Blue Jays seem impressed and more confident about his soon-to-be major league arrival. It is unknown if shortstop will be his future position in the majors, though. While some scouts think it will be, there are others that feel he is better suited at second base. Either way, it is his ability at the plate that have fans and fantasy owners drooling over. Many people see him competing for batting titles once he enters his prime, and just like his father, he should very easily be an all-star in this league.