ST. PETERSBURG, FL – JULY 25: Bo Bichette #11 of the Toronto Blue Jays takes infield prior to a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 25, 2020 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The 2020 season had been postponed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Bo Bichette was a late scratch from the lineup Monday.
A player being scratched from the lineup right before first pitch always brings up some questions. Such a thing happening during the COVID-19 pandemic can easily be interpreted as the sign of a positive test or at least symptoms of the virus.
Young Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette was in the lineup Monday against the Washington Nationals in the leadoff spot. That was up until about 20 minutes before the start of the game when he was a late scratch.
The official word on Bo Bichette
Right away the fears of a COVID-19 diagnosis were there. However, it appears Bichette is dealing with a more traditional setback.
Blue Jays fans and MLB fans in general can breathe a huge sigh of relief. The outbreak seen within the Miami Marlins clubhouse has the real possibility to shut down the season just as fast as it started.
Any other team dealing with players who are carrying coronavirus in the clubhouse could turn the Marlins’ situation into a league-wide disaster. Luckily, that is not the case here.
Yet this is still a concern for Blue Jays fans. Bichette is only 22 years old and is a key part of the team’s success in the future. Players only getting a few weeks to train before a 60-game sprint could lead to injuries due to that lack of activity. Being scratched from the lineup may just be a precaution to avoid pushing him too hard so early in the season.
Teoscar Hernandez replaced Bichette at the top of the Blue Jays lineup and hit a home run to start the game. So from a short-term baseball standpoint, the move was not an initial disaster Monday night. However, fans will be anxiously awaiting an official word on the severity of this hamstring issue.