New York Mets third baseman Bo Bichette has emerged as a rare beacon of durability this season, playing in 128 of the team's 129 games entering Saturday night's contest. His consistent presence on the field has coincided with the Mets' strong performance in August, a period during which he has posted a .947 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS).
Bichette, 28, has made it through the season with only minor absences, a stark contrast to the injury-plagued campaigns of several other key Mets regulars. Players like Juan Soto, Jorge Polanco, Francisco Lindor, and Luis Robert Jr. have all spent time on the injured list at various points this year. Bichette attributes his ability to stay on the field to a combination of luck and diligent offseason preparation following significant injury setbacks in previous seasons. "Part of it is luck, right?" Bichette said. "I think I did a good job of getting strong this offseason. I didn’t have much of a choice after injuries two years ago and then last year with the knee. But I think I did a good job to get strong enough to get a whole season."
His transition to third base after seven seasons at shortstop may also be contributing to his sustained health, although he did play shortstop for a period when Francisco Lindor was sidelined with a calf strain. Bichette experienced a significant knee injury last season that sidelined him for the end of the regular season and most of the postseason. In 2024, a calf strain limited him to 81 games.
This season, Bichette's .706 OPS entering play on Friday was his highest of the year, and his strong August performance has been a key factor in the Mets' recent success. The team had won 11 of their last 16 games heading into Saturday. Bichette expressed pride in his ability to overcome a difficult start to the season and focus on finishing strong. "The competitor in me sees the opportunity for me to still have a good year and I am still focused on that too, but I just want to have a strong finish," he said.
He suggested that the Aug. 3 trade deadline, which saw several veteran players depart, served as a reset for the team. "The burden of having a bad season was kind of lifted when the trade deadline happened," Bichette noted. "It gave the guys ability to just go out there and try to become better baseball players. Go out there and just try to win and it’s been real fun."
With his three-year, $126 million contract potentially allowing him to opt out after the season, Bichette acknowledged that future decisions are still to be made. However, he expressed contentment with his current situation. "I think there are a lot of positive things," he said. "I am having a really good time right here right now. There are a lot of really good young players that make it fun to come here and a lot of really good players that have been around, so I am enjoying my time here."