Bo Bichette Injury Update: Blue Jays manager expects shortstop to return this season as he's progressing well with rehab

Bo Bichette has been missing from the Toronto Blue Jays lineup since July 19, after he was placed on the IL due to a calf strain on his right leg. The two-time All-Star shortstop has had a difficult injury-marred campaign, which has limited him to 79 games this season. Nevertheless, the Blue Jays fans can see him in action again this season even though the team is out of playoff contention.

On Tuesday, Blue Jays manager John Schneider provided an update on Bichette to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, ahead of the game against the Baltimore Orioles.

According to Schneider, Bichette will be in Toronto on Thursday for an assessment of his injury situation.

The 26-year-old hasn't started taking practice sessions yet, but he's making steady progress in his rehab process. Schneider added that Bichette is keen on returning to the team before the end of the season, irrespective of their position in the standings.

Despite having high expectations, the 2024 season has been a massive disappointment for the Blue Jays. The all-round contribution from their batting lineup has been quite poor, and their starting rotation has also failed to live up to its billing idespite being hugely experienced.

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Bo Bichette will be keen to end 2024 on a positive note after a difficult season

The Toronto Blue Jays seemed to be out of playoff contention by the start of July. Their performances improved over the next couple of weeks, as they started trading away players to rebuild the team for next season.

Bo Bichette was also considered a possible trade candidate at the deadline, but the front office had ruled out a move despite his subpar performance and injury issues this season.

The Blues Jays shortstop is the son of Dante Bichette, a four-time All-Star who played in the MLB for 14 years with five teams and finished runner-up for the National League MVP in 1995.

Bo Bichette broke out with the Blue Jays in 2019 and established himself as one of the best offensive shortstops in the game over the next two years. In 2023, he earned his second All-Star selection and ended the season with a .306/.339/.475 slashline with .814 OPS and 53 extra-base hits, including 20 home runs.

However, Bichette is going through his worst campaign in the big leagues this year, while he has also struggled to stay on the field. He has racked up just 330 plate appearances in 79 games while batting .223/.276/.321, with only four home runs and an OPS under .600.

Therefore, it's no surprise that Bo Bichette wants to get back on the field as quickly as possible. He needs to regain his health and swing to perform as an integral part of the Blue Jays line-up for next season.