How Blue Jays’ Bichette transformed himself at shortstop – Sportsnet.ca

TORONTO – Bo Bichette surprised Luis Rivera in the first days of spring training this year. The shortstop has spent the past few seasons working hard on specific drills with Toronto Blue Jays infield instructors but told Rivera in February that he felt it was time to move on from them.

One such exercise involved Bichette kneeling while Rivera fired ground balls at him. It is designed to strengthen his hand-eye coordination and soften his hands. Another drill worked to improve Bichette’s internal clock by having him field balls in his position while Rivera yelled out numbers from a giant timer placed at home plate.

Entering his fifth MLB season, Bichette feels he has grown up and is ready for something new. He told Rivera that he wants to focus first on flying and throwing game speed.

“It’s not practice — it’s just repeating whatever happens in games,” Rivera said, repeating the old adage, perfect practice makes perfect.

The coach immediately boarded Bichette’s request and so they worked to build a routine that would guide the shortstop through a season where he took his glovework to the next level.

“We talked [recently] about how difficult it was for him last year mentally most of the mistakes he made were because he didn’t trust himself,” Rivera said. “He has no confidence. And, now, his confidence is through the roof.

Bichette added: “It’s just understanding that I can do it and then going out there and doing it.”

Bo Bichette in the post-season this October for the Blue Jays is the best defensive version he’s ever been. But that didn’t happen by chance. It was the culmination of years of behind-the-scenes work that laid a solid foundation for his self-confidence to grow.

When the Blue Jays selected Bichette in the second round of the 2016 draft, there were no questions about the high-school player’s most valuable tool.

“We knew there was a ton of talent and upside with the bat,” said Blue Jays field coordinator Gil Kim, who was the organization’s director of player development at the time. “We know this is a kid who absolutely loves the game and loves to compete. And we also know there’s a player who doesn’t spend a lot of time on his defense.

“And there are definitely questions about whether he’s going to stay at shortstop, whether he’s going to play second base, whether there’s a potential move to the outfield,” Kim continued.

“There are a lot of questions about his defensive future.”

The Blue Jays immediately installed Bichette in his rookie ball assignment in the summer of 2016 and made the decision to give him as much rope as possible to stay at the position. Bichette responded by consistently working in every area of ​​his defense.

Initially, there was a focus on his physical development and fielding technique, including first-step reactions, agility, speed and footwork. The organization challenged him with individual routines, such as the kneeling short-hop hand drills he continued in the big leagues with Rivera. There is also work alone on specific actions, such as backhands, as well as first-step drills where he responds to balls thrown randomly.

The Blue Jays threw a lot at him in those early days and he rose to the challenge every time.

“He’s always been convicted of his ability to play shortstop,” Kim said. “He really wants to prove to other people that he can do it. And when Bo puts his mind to something and decides he’s going to do it, he usually has success doing it.

One of Kim’s favorite stories from Bichette’s time in the minors came in 2018 during the double-A championship series. Bichette has announced that he wants to improve the balls in his right and has been working all season with New Hampshire Fisher Cats manager John Schneider and positional coach Andy Fermin.

Kim was in attendance during the last series against Akron and remembers a ball that was hit between short and third.

“[Bichette] made an amazing play and shot the guy to first base,” Kim recalled. “And I remember I was behind the plate looking down and Schneider and Fermin were looking at me. It was one of those moments where you were like, ‘Wow, this is why you believe in this kid.’

“It’s because he expressed it a year ago that he wanted to get better in games like that. And here he is in a championship series executing that game. And then obviously they went on to win that series.”

Bichette reached the majors in 2019 and was never a finished product on defense. Questions about his long-term future at the position continued to haunt him through his first few seasons, and those doubts weren’t put to rest when he tied for the major league lead with 24 errors in 2021 and second in baseball. there are 23 following. campaign.

Defensive standards didn’t go too well with Bichette either. His career Outs Above Average is -18 and even this season, where he has improved greatly, it is at -2.

“I saw the usual plays,” Blue Jays manager Schneider said. “I see a guy who plays every day and always works. There are a lot of things that are in the metrics – first step or arm strength or transition, and everyone does it a little bit differently. So, I think for him and for us, we’re looking for consistency and he’s got it all. What I’m looking at is outs are outs.”

Bichette was also tireless in his pursuit of knowledge. The list of names associated with his development seems endless. There’s Schneider and Fermin in the minors, along with coach Danny Solano and minors manager Cesar Martin. He also worked with former big-league shortstops Barry Larkin and Miguel Cairo and was heavily influenced by former Blue Jays teammate Marcus Semien.

Another name involved in casting Bichette: Troy Tulowitzki. Bichette coached the former Blue Jays shortstop during the off-seasons and Rivera says a mantra from the seasoned defender in particular stuck with Bichette.

“When you cut your throwing errors, you cut half your errors,” Rivera said.

Bichette seems to have internalized this season through his game-speed practices and Rivera said the result is beyond doubt.

There was a point during the campaign where the coach noticed that it had been weeks since Bichette had made a mistake [he made just eight total in 2023]. It was when he started to dawn that Bichette had turned a corner.

“His passing improved 100 percent,” said Rivera. “When I watch him work on his throws and watch him during games, most of the throws are in [first baseman’s] chest.”

When reflecting on his evolution as a shortstop, Bichette believes the difference is less about mechanics and more about mindset.

“Experience, slowing down the game and trusting myself,” said Bichette. “I know that if I’m going to be the defender I want to be, I have to believe in myself and stop trying to be perfect.”

While the 25-year-old acknowledged that he is a different defensive player now than in years past, Bichette added that he continues to improve.

“I think I can be one of the best — if not the best — defensive shortstops in the league,” Bichette said. “There is more room to grow. I can be more athletic and make better plays and cover more ground so that’s something I’ll focus on when the season comes. I think I have the range, but I just think I could be better. “

The Blue Jays coaching staff believes part of what made the difference for him was timing. He played his 500th MLB game at shortstop on Thursday and that longevity inevitably brings relief. The repetition and exposure at the big league level helped him slow down the game.

That long period of time also allowed Bichette to grow into her own skin. He built a good foundation and absorbed as much as he could from others, ultimately discarding what didn’t work for him.

That last part may have been the hardest step, but Bichette seems to have cleared the hurdle.

“Mentally, he finally made up his mind and finally realized who he is as an infielder,” Rivera said. “He’s tried different things before from different people and, finally, he’s like, ‘This is me, this is me, this is me.’ And the guy who plays shortstop is him. He’s not trying to be like everybody else.”