Bo is Back: Blue Jays’ Bichette to play second base and bat cleanup in Game 1

Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

TORONTO — Bo Bichette isn’t just returning to the Toronto Blue Jays’ roster for the World Series. He’s switching positions for Game 1 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Normally a shortstop, Bichette was set to play second base for the first time at the big-league level in the series opener Friday night at Rogers Centre.

“The World Series is a different animal,” Bichette said in a pre-game media availability. “Luckily, I’ve had a lot of time in my life at second base, so I have some experience there. I mean, I feel ready to contribute there.”

Bichette, who missed seven weeks with a left knee sprain, was added to the 26-man roster for the best-of-seven series earlier in the day. Infielder Ty France was also included, while outfielder Joey Loperfido and reliever Yariel Rodriguez were dropped.

Regular second baseman Andres Gimenez has filled in at shortstop for Bichette, who made strides in recent days with his running drills and lateral movement.

“Just trying to get as healthy as I could be and as ready as I could be for this,” Bichette said.

Outfielders Myles Straw and Davis Schneider also got starts while Nathan Lukes, Addison Barger and Isiah Kiner-Falefa -- who all started Game 7 earlier this week against the Seattle Mariners -- were available off the bench.

Bichette was in obvious discomfort when he tried running the bases before the ALCS. He looked much more comfortable during Thursday’s team workout, although he wasn’t running at a full sprint.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Bichette’s bat in the cleanup spot will be a “huge boost.”

“We’ve got to score against this team,” he said in a pre-game availability in his office. “So that was probably the part that was ahead of everything, I think -- his bat.”

Bichette, who led the team with 181 hits in the regular season, also seemed comfortable as he pivoted while taking grounders. His swing looked smooth in the batting cage.

“I’ve been able to get a lot of good work in,” he said. “But honestly, I’m leaning on a whole life’s work of swings and at-bats that have all been dedicated to being ready for this moment.

“So I feel ready and I’m ready to get out there. I’m super excited.”

Bichette, who first brought up the idea with management to switch positions, last played second base with Triple-A Buffalo in 2019.

“It was something that I felt like I could get ready for quicker than another position,” he said. “I just want to be ready to help the team in any way that is afforded to me.

“So that felt like an opportunity for me, and obviously, they were on board with it.”

The Blue Jays selected 14 position players and 12 pitchers for the Fall Classic instead of the 13-13 mix they used in the ALCS.

Trey Yesavage was scheduled to start Game 1 for the Blue Jays against Blake Snell. Schneider confirmed right-hander Kevin Gausman would start Game 2 on Saturday night against Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Bichette, a two-time American League hits leader, finished second to New York’s Aaron Judge with a .311 batting average this past season.

“He’s just one of those guys that can roll out of bed hitting,” Schneider said. “And I just love the presence in the lineup, too. The fact that he can drive in runs, the numbers with runners in scoring position, I think is a real thing.”

Bichette is in the final year of his contract with the Blue Jays. He’ll be eligible for free agency in the off-season.

Also Friday, Los Angeles added right-handers Edgardo Henriquez and Will Klein to its roster while dropping southpaw Alex Vesia and right-hander Ben Casparius. The Dodgers have said that Vesia was not with the team because of a family matter.

Three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, who was left off the Dodgers’ wild-card series roster and didn’t pitch in the NL Championship Series, is on the World Series roster.

The 37-year-old Kershaw has said he plans to retire after this season.

With files from The Associated Press.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2025.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press