New York Mets third baseman Bo Bichette's eyes welled up as he prepared to face his former team, the Toronto Blue Jays, at Rogers Centre. Bichette expressed gratitude for his past experiences with the Blue Jays, acknowledging the mixed emotions of returning to the only major league home he had known before this season.
"This is an opportunity for me to reflect on good times and just be grateful for everything," Bichette said Monday before the game. He was a key player on the Blue Jays team that reached Game 7 of the World Series, a championship they ultimately lost to the Dodgers.
Despite a strong June surge, Bichette has had a slower start with the Mets this season, entering Monday's game with a .254/.300/.388 slash line. This performance is a departure from expectations following his three-year, $126 million contract with the Mets, which includes opt-outs after the first two seasons.
Bichette admitted he has often replayed Game 7 of the World Series in his mind, a game where he homered to give the Blue Jays a lead before the Dodgers rallied. The Blue Jays have not won a World Series since their back-to-back championships in 1992 and 1993.
"You dream of getting to that situation and opportunity," he said. "I am so grateful that we had that experience and got there. I don't know how many times I have replayed it, but it comes to mind every once in a while."
The Mets' season has been challenging, with the team having lost eight of their last nine games entering Monday, falling to a 35-49 record. This slump led to manager Carlos Mendoza's dismissal last week. Under interim manager Andy Green, the team lost two of three games to the Phillies over the weekend.
Bichette stated he harbors no regrets about his departure from the Blue Jays, a situation that arose when a contract extension did not materialize. "I don't think there's regrets," Bichette said about leaving. "I think it just didn't line up for whatever reason. It's tough to live in the past like that." The Phillies were reportedly close to acquiring Bichette before the Mets signed him.
The Blue Jays are also experiencing a disappointing season, holding a 39-45 record. Slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who signed a $500 million contract before last season, has also underperformed, with only four home runs entering Monday's game.
"It's the same story every year, wondering why Vlad is not hitting .400 and leading the league in OPS," Bichette said. "I know he's not doing what he is capable of, but every single year he ends up doing something that reminds you how good he is."
Bichette's recent performance has shown improvement, with a .932 OPS in June after a sluggish start. Interim manager Andy Green noted Bichette's recent success, stating, "What I have had the opportunity to see the last number of weeks, he's squaring stuff up and he's got the normal aggression that he's had his entire career and he's spraying hits all over the yard and that is fun to see."