Forbidden Love is a Cubs DNA series where our staff waxes poetic about a player on a team other than the Cubs. Maybe even one you think they should hate. In this installment, Tina introduces you to the first in a series of three Blue Jays rookies, shortstop, Bo Bichette.
Maybe these three youngsters, shortstop Bo Bichette, third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and second baseman Cavan Biggio, remind me of what the Cubs had in 2015 - a young, super talented infield, trying to skyrocket their teams to success. All while being adorable and playing great baseball.
Incredibly, the Blue Jays have a trio made of second generation ball players, Bo, 22, being the son of former outfielder Dante Bichette (most notably with the Rockies). Look at Dante with the swing and this memorable walk off - and his flow !
Bo Joseph (named after Bo Jackson and his dad's friend Joe Girardi) was called up to the Show on July 29th of last year. What an exciting first 11 games for him. He broke an MLB record with a double in 9 consecutive games. He also became the first player in the modern era to have 12+ extra base hits in his first 11 games.
One of the highlights of Bo's short career were his at bats against Clayton Kershaw.
1st at bat - dinger
2nd at bat - got fooled by a curveball and then laughed about it with teammates.
3rd at bat - another dinger
With that 2nd HR, he became the 6th player to have a multi-HR game against Kershaw and the 1st rookie to do it.
How do you not love this kid? This reaction is everything!
Still, he has mad respect for Kershaw.
In 46 games, he smashed 11 home runs and 18 doubles and ended the 2019 season with a slash line of .311/.358/.571/.930 and an OPS+ of 144. It's hard to upstage a player like Vladdy Jr., but Bo came out of the gate at a full sprint.
2020 was supposed to be a huge year for many players, including Bo. I can't wait for baseball to return, but here's how he's keeping himself safe:
In the next weeks, I will cover the other two second generation baseball players on the Blue Jays, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio.