The Toronto Blue Jays are calling up one of their top minor league prospects in shortstop Bo Bichette.
SportsNet’s Shi Davidi reported on Sunday afternoon that Bichette was being called up.
The call-up was anticipated by many following a series of moves by the Blue Jays earlier in the day.
First, the Jays traded Eric Sogard to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. Sogard plays all over the diamond but has primarily been used at second base by Toronto this season.
Next, Bichette was pulled from his minor-league game with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. WGR’s Pat Malacaro says there were a lot of hugs and handshakes in the dugout, which made it seem like a farewell for Bichette as he moves up the ladder.
Hugs and handshakes in the #Bisons dugout for Bo Bichette as he has been removed from the game in the bottom of the 3rd inning. #BlueJays
— Pat Malacaro (@PatWGR) July 28, 2019
This is an exciting move for Blue Jays fans, and one that has been expected to occur at some point this season. The 21-year-old former second-round pick tore up the minors, batting .322 with an .895 OPS during his minor league career. He was so dominant at Single-A earlier this year that he was promoted to Buffalo, where he was steady enough to earn this call-up.
Between Bichette, Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio, the Jays have had three stud prospects playing together in the minor leagues and working around the same MLB arrival timeline. All three happen to be the sons of former Major League stars as well; Bichette’s father Dante was a four-time All-Star.
The Jays also are trading pitcher Marcus Stroman to the Mets, which will open up yet another roster spot.
