'I gave it everything I had': Bo Bichette makes emotional return to Toronto

New York Mets' Bo Bichette celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run during the sixth inning in the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

TORONTO — Former Toronto Blue Jays star Bo Bichette was emotional in his first return to the Rogers Centre since joining the New York Mets as a free agent in the off-season.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, before the Blue Jays (39-45) opened a three-game series against the Mets (35-49), the 28-year-old paused to collect himself more than once as he fielded a variety of questions about his seven-year tenure with the Blue Jays from the visitors’ dugout.

When asked what kind of reception he expected from fans, Bichette began to answer before he paused to look out at the field, fighting back tears.

“I gave it everything I had,” he said. “I just hope that’s appreciated.”

Monday was Bichette’s first game back in Toronto since the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series. He said he hadn’t anticipated getting emotional during his pre-game media availability.

“I didn’t expect that, to be honest, but this is also the first time I’ve been out here, and the first time I’ve really talked to any of you guys,” he said. “I’m sure there’s a lot of things that are being brought on me at one time right now.”

Following the end of the 2025 season, Bichette became a free agent and signed a three-year, US$126-million deal with the Mets.

Before joining the Mets, Bichette spent his entire MLB career in Toronto. The Blue Jays drafted the infielder in the second round in 2016, and he made his major-league debut in July of 2019.

Over seven seasons with the Blue Jays, Bichette, a two-time All-Star, batted .294 with 111 home runs, 437 RBIs and an .806 OPS in 748 games.

Bichette said it felt “different” to be back in Toronto.

“I’m excited to get out here and play some ball and see some guys,” said Bichette, who viewed his time return as an opportunity to “reflect on good times, and just be grateful.”

Among the good times was last year’s Blue Jays’ run to the World Series. Bichette missed the majority of the post-season with a left knee injury, but made his return to the lineup during the World Series.

In Game 7, he hit a three-run home run in the third inning off Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani that gave Toronto an early lead before L.A. came back to win in extra innings.

“When I hit that home run, I had a moment by myself, kind of down in the tunnel, where I just was like, I couldn’t have drew it up better. Obviously, I hoped we would have won, but for me, just what I was going through up to that point, it was cool,” he said.

As Bichette navigated free agency, he said he had a feeling his time in Toronto had come to an end before he signed with the Mets. But the third baseman said he doesn’t have regrets.

“I think at the end of the day, it just didn’t line up for whatever reason,” he said. “But no, I mean, (it’s) tough to live in the past like that.”

Bichette got off to a slow start for the Mets this season, but he has performed better recently. Entering Monday’s game, he was batting .337 with five home runs and 18 RBIs with a .932 OPS through 25 games in June.

Before the game, Bichette said he had yet to reunite with former teammate and close friend Vladimir Guerrero Jr., with whom he shared a field with throughout the minor leagues as well.

“It’ll be good,” he said, again becoming emotional, about what it would be like to see Guerrero.

“We went through it all together,” Bichette said about his relationship with the Blue Jays first baseman. “The one goal we had together, we didn’t accomplish it, but I’ve seen him at his lowest, and he’s seen me at mine, and vice versa at our highest.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 29, 2026.

Kaitlyn McGrath, The Canadian Press