When we think of shortstops who have worn the Blue Jays uniform, we often think of Tony Fernandez, Troy Tulowitzki, José Reyes, Alex Gonzalez and Manuel Lee.
These days, all eyes are on shortstop Bo Bichette. He's already made a name for himself as a top hitter, leading the American League in hits in each of the last two seasons.
Despite his impressive performances, Bichette has come up just shy of breaking the Blue Jays franchise record for hits. In 2021, he collected 191 hits, and in 2020, he recorded 189 hits, leaving him just short of the record set by another shortstop, Tony Fernandez. But, true to his competitive spirit, Bichette isn't giving up. He's already set his sights on breaking the record this season and is ready to put in the work to make it happen.
The former second round pick has been on fire so far this season and Bichette is on pace to surpass his April hit total from last year. During the team's opening road trip, Bichette showed off his hitting prowess with five multi-hit games, including a three-hit and four-hit game. In total, he's recorded 17 hits out of 47 at-bats, with five of those hits going for extra bases. Bichette's impressive performance has resulted in a slash line of .362/.400/.596, solidifying his position as a top hitter in the league.
But as any baseball fan knows, hitting is easier said than done. Bichette will have to contend with a variety of challenges in his quest for the hits record, from opposing pitchers to injuries to the occasional bad hair day. Bichette isn't one to shy away from a challenge though. In fact, he seems to thrive on pressure.
Of course, it's not just about personal accolades for Bichette. The 25-year-old is focused on helping his team win, and he knows that getting on base is a crucial part of that equation.
So, will Bo Bichette break the Blue Jays hits record? Only time will tell. But one thing's for sure: he's got the talent, the drive, and the hair (that flow is impressive) to make it happen.
