Additional Coverage:
Bo Bichette Faces Early Struggles in Mets Debut, Eyes Improvement
NEW YORK – Bo Bichette’s arrival at Citi Field hasn’t gone quite as smoothly as hoped. In just his third game with the New York Mets, the 28-year-old infielder encountered boos from the home crowd for the first time – and he wasn’t exactly surprised.
“If anything, I thought it took too long,” Bichette admitted following the Mets’ 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. “I thought my at-bats were terrible, too.”
The numbers underscore Bichette’s rocky start: he is 1-for-14 with eight strikeouts through his first three games. That’s a stark contrast to his performance last season with the Toronto Blue Jays, where his strikeout rate ranked among the best in the majors. Over this series, that rate has ballooned to over 50%.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza offered some insight into the early struggles. “I think he’s getting good pitches early in counts, and then they’re making him chase, especially at the top of the zone,” Mendoza explained.
“He’s going to swing. He’s going to go out there and he’s going to hack.
He’s a good hitter.”
Bichette’s transition to the Mets has included more than just batting woes. After signing a three-year, $126 million deal in the offseason, including two opt-outs, Bichette has also been adjusting to a new defensive role at third base – a position he had never played professionally before, having spent seven seasons at shortstop with Toronto.
He acknowledged that learning third base has demanded more mental focus than he anticipated. Following a throwing error Saturday, Bichette stayed after practice to work on his mechanics but expressed confidence in his progress. Still, the adjustment seems to have affected his offensive rhythm as well.
“I just got to be more committed in the process,” Bichette said. “Definitely find myself trying to have, like, a moment out there. So I just got to get back to being me.”
Bichette admitted he wanted to make an immediate impact when he joined the Mets during their offseason overhaul but recognized that early expectations may have weighed on him. “It’s early, but also there hasn’t been much to be happy about with what I’ve done so far,” he reflected. “We can talk about it being early, but we’ll figure some things out.”
Sunday presented two key opportunities for Bichette to shine. With the game tied at 2 in the seventh inning and runners in scoring position, a hit could have put the Mets ahead. Instead, he struck out swinging at a 100 mph fastball from Pirates reliever Mason Montgomery, drawing the boos from the Citi Field crowd.
Later in the 10th inning, with the tying run on second and one out, Bichette grounded out to shortstop, ending the Mets’ chance to rally and concluding their brief home stand with a loss.
Looking ahead, the Mets embark on a six-game road trip to St. Louis and San Francisco. When asked if the change of scenery might help, Bichette said, “Maybe, but I got to figure out how to hit here anyways.”
As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on Bichette to see if he can find his footing both at the plate and in his new role on the field.