The Toronto Blue Jays have included one of their top hitters, Bo Bichette, in the lineup for the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bichette, who has been sidelined since September 6 due to a left knee sprain, was named on the team’s 26-man roster for the best-of-seven series.
Bo Bichette will be positioned at second base and will bat in the cleanup spot, as confirmed by the Blue Jays just hours before Game 1 at Rogers Centre on Friday night. Outfielders Myles Straw and Davis Schneider also secured starting roles, with Nathan Lukes, Addison Barger, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa available as options off the bench.
Bichette displayed progress in recent days by engaging in base running, defensive drills, and maintaining his hitting routine in the batting cage. Infielder Ty France joined the 26-man roster, while reliever Yariel Rodriguez and outfielder Joey Loperfido were excluded from the list.
During the team’s workout on Thursday, Bichette practiced taking grounders at second base. Andres Gimenez, typically a second baseman, shifted to shortstop during Bichette’s absence. Bichette expressed his readiness to fulfill any role required by the team during a media day session on Thursday.
The Blue Jays opted for a roster of 14 position players and 12 pitchers for the Fall Classic, deviating from the 13-13 format used in the ALCS against the Mariners. Bichette, a two-time American League hits leader, finished the regular season with 181 hits and a .311 batting average, placing second behind New York’s Aaron Judge.
Bo Bichette emphasized his commitment to contributing to the team’s success without the pressure of being a hero. The 23-year-old player is currently in the final year of his contract with the Blue Jays and is set to become a free agent in the offseason.
On the Dodgers’ side, Edgardo Henriquez and Will Klein were added to the roster, replacing Alex Vesia and Ben Casparius. Left-hander Alex Vesia was absent from the team due to a family matter. Clayton Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young winner, who was excluded from the Dodgers’ wild-card series roster and did not pitch in the NL Championship Series, is included in the World Series roster. Kershaw, aged 37, has indicated his intention to retire after this season.