Let's Know Bo

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Bo Joseph Bichette was born on March 5, 1998 in Orlando, Florida. His mother, Mariana Bichette, is of Brazilian descent, which is why Bichette has represented Team Brazil in the World Baseball Classic. His famous father is former MLB player Dante Bichette. Bo got his name from multisport athlete Bo Jackson, whom Dante has called "the coolest athlete ever." 

Bo's older brother, Dante Jr., played minor league baseball for nine seasons. He played for the Gulf Coast League Yankees in 2011 and the Charleston RiverDogs in 2012. His manager those years was Carlos Mendoza.

Dante wanted Bo to play tennis, but that wasn't in the cards. Bichette was home schooled but played competitively for Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, Florida. Bo did so well in high school ball he was named Florida's "Mr. Baseball."

It earned Bichette a scholarship to Arizona State University. Instead of college, Bichette signed with the Toronto Blue Jays when they drafted him in the second round in the 2016 draft. He signed for a $1.1 million bonus. In his first professional season, he missed time due to a ruptured appendix. Despite this hiccup, Bichette was named the Gulf Coast League end-of-season All-Star at shortstop.  

Bo made it to The Show on July 29, 2019. On the second pitch he ever saw in the big leagues, Bichette recorded his first hit, a single off of Brad Keller of the Royals. By August 6th, Bo became the first player in MLB history to hit 10 extra base hits in his first nine games. A few days later, he hit a double for the ninth consecutive game, another MLB record. Bo became the first rookie with nine straight games with extra-base hits since Ted Williams in 1939. 

Bichette was named an All-Star for the first time in 2021. He ended the season with an American League topping 191 hits. Unfortunately, he also led the league in errors, with 24.

In 2022 he led the league in most foul balls hit, with 587, and once again in hits, with 189. He did the same in 2023. 2024 was an injury-plagued campaign for Bo. He had a nagging right calf strain beginning in June, and then fractured his right middle finger while taking ground balls in September, ending his season. 2025 was a bounce back year. He would have led MLB again in hits if it wasn't for his injury in early September. He hurt his posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and didn't return until the World Series, where he was moved from shortstop to second base to accommodate his hobbled status. Bichette slashed .348/.444/.478 in seven World Series games, including a big three-run homer off of Shohei Ohtani in Game 7. 

That's the thing about Bo: the man is clutch. In his career with runners in scoring position, he's hit .330 with a .527 slugging percentage. Clutch hitting is something the Mets were severely lacking last season. 

In January 2026 Bo got married. Two weeks later, he signed a three-year contract with the Mets that gives him $42 million per year. Not a bad month!

The Yankees reportedly are not budging on their offer to Cody Bellinger - five years, $160 million, opt outs after years two and three - and refuse to get into a "bidding war." This seemingly opens the door for our Mets, who reportedly are still interested but only for a short-term, big AAV deal similar to the one they just gave Bo Bichette. Scott Boras wants his client to get a seven-year pact, but if nobody is going to give it to him, and the Mets offer more money per year? rubs hands 

Will Sammon gave an update on the Mets' thinking. The Mets are apparently looking for a "versatile outfielder who can handle center field and support the corner spot", which of course describes Bellinger to a T. If Bellinger doesn't come to Queens, the names to "atch out for" are old chum and current free agent Harrison Bader, St. Louis' Lars Nootbaar, Houston's Jake Meyers, and of course, the White Sox' Luis Robert Jr. "Rival executives" don't think the Red Sox will part with Jarren Duran.

Yes, the Mets are still expected to address their starting pitching. The names Sammon offered are nothing new: Freddy Peralta (Brewers), Kris Bubic (Royals), and Mackenzie Gore (Nationals). Bubic and Gore are considered "longshots", and Peralta is being pursued by the Dodgers supposedly, so I'd say he's just as unlikely to become a Met as the previous two.

League sources told Sammon that the Mets envision Brett Baty as their new Jeff McNeil, playing here, there, every bleeping where, including the outfield and some first base. Is that asking too much out of the kid? Not necessarily. He handled second base just fine last year, and played some left field in the minors. 

Congrats to Nolan McLean. McAce got married over the weekend!