Bichette returns as Varsho, Wagner shelved
After nearly two months on the sidelines, Bo Bichette is back.
When last we saw the Blue Jays shortstop, he was limping down the first-base line after flying out to right field in the sixth inning of the Jays’ first game back after the allstar break. The calf strain forced him to the injured list, where he spent 59 days, denying the 26-yearold a chance to turn around what has been the worst season of his big-league career.
“I would have to have some results, obviously,” Bichette told reporters in Texas before Tuesday’s game, in which he was back in his familiar second spot in the batting order for only the third time this season. “Really, my ultimate goal here is just to have fun playing.”
That joy had been lost this year, with the Jays mired in last place since late June and Bichette hitting just .222 when he got hurt. His .595 on-base-plus-slugging percentage was fourth-worst in the American League among players with at least 300 at-bats going into Tuesday.
“He feels like a loser because he’s one of our leaders and we’re not winning,” injured pitcher Alek Manoah said in August.
Bichette struck out chasing a slider down and away in his first at-bat Tuesday, but hit a ground ball down the third-base line that ate up Rangers third baseman Josh Jung for an infield single in his next trip.
As Bichette returned from sick bay, the Jays placed a pair of players on the injured list Tuesday.
Daulton Varsho was shelved with inflammation in his right shoulder that will require surgery on his rotator cuff. The game’s best defensive outfielder may not be able to answer the bell for the beginning of spring training.
Second baseman Will Wagner, who hit .305 in his first month in the majors, was placed on the 60day injured list with left knee inflammation. The rookie has been sent to Cleveland for further examination, but the hope is that the injury is not serious.