Bo Bichette stepped onto the Rogers Centre field for the first time as an opponent on Monday, drawing a standing ovation during a video tribute to his Blue Jays years.
For Bo Bichette, Monday in Toronto felt like walking into a memory that didn’t want to let go.
After seven seasons with the Blue Jays that produced 748 regular-season games. two all-star nods. and an epic Game 7 home run in the World Series. the Mets third baseman took the field at Rogers Centre as a visitor for the first time. He did it after traveling north of the border for the first series since signing a three-year. $126-million deal with the New York Mets in the off-season.
Before first pitch, Bichette made the rounds. He caught up with old teammates, then spoke with the media as the night carried the familiar weight of his Toronto past.
When he reflected on his time with the Blue Jays, Bichette’s emotions came through clearly. He teared up while saying he “gave everything he had” to the team after Toronto drafted him in 2016.
The tribute arrived in the way Toronto knows how to deliver it: loud and instant. As both teams warmed up, Toronto played a video tribute to Bichette at Rogers Centre. The crowd responded with a standing ovation, setting the tone before the game even began.
Bichette, batting third for the Mets, received another wave of appreciation as he came to the plate in the top of the first. The moment didn’t change the matchup, though. Blue Jays starter Trey Yesavage ultimately won the opening battle, inducing a 95.7 m.p.h. lineout to centre.
Still, it was hard to miss what this night truly was: a warm welcome to one of the greatest shortstops in Blue Jays history. In between the on-field work and the noise from the stands, the evening carried the same message—Bichette may have changed jerseys, but Toronto hadn’t forgotten.
Bo Bichette Toronto Blue Jays New York Mets Rogers Centre Trey Yesavage MLB Game 7 home run standing ovation video tribute