Bichette committed to helping kids in need of opportunities

Bo Bichette has put the Blue Jays on his back in September with one of the best stretches of play in his young career, but it’s his work away from the field that was recognized recently with a nomination for MLB’s Roberto Clemente Award.

Each season, the Roberto Clemente Award presented by Capital One is given to a player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions — both on and off the field.

Bichette, like several of his teammates, grew up in the Major League environment as the son of a former big leaguer. The 24-year-old recognizes that this afforded him opportunities others didn’t have growing up, which he identified even before being drafted in 2016. Once he joined the Blue Jays, Bichette knew that he wanted to do something to help level the playing field for other young athletes.

“I have a lot of people who help me — but growing up, I was always pretty privileged,” Bichette said. “My family had money and things like that. So in high school, I went to a school that had a lot of people who weren’t as fortunate. I was able to see a lot of really talented people not get the opportunities that I had. Basically, back in my high school’s hometown, I’ve set up a lot of different after-school camps for younger kids — and also [helped] my high school baseball team and football team with equipment. My biggest thing is just helping people who don’t have the same opportunities as I do.”

Bichette’s high school, Lakewood (Fla.) High School, is where much of his focus lies, but he’s also expanded his work with local youth. For the second year in row, Bichette sponsored a baseball camp for more than 500 children through PG Cares. The full-day camp featured transportation for all involved, food, a day of baseball instruction and backpacks full of baseball gear.

He’s also become involved with local recreation centers in the St. Petersburg, Fla., area, sponsoring more than 300 kids at a baseball camp and supporting a back-to-school shoe giveaway.

“Obviously, we don’t do the things we do for the recognition,” Bichette said, “but I think it’s good to bring awareness to other people — giving ideas to other people in my business, people that can help.”

Bichette’s recent hot streak on the field has shown him at his best, with the talent to be one of baseball’s best young shortstops. 

Interim manager John Schneider has known Bichette for years now, stretching back to his time managing him in the Minor Leagues. Like anyone who’s worked with Bichette in the organization, Schneider points to Bichette’s maturity as one of his greatest strengths on and off the field.

“He’s pretty self-motivated. You don’t really have to nudge him too much,” Schneider said. “I know him pretty well, to where, if things are going great, he’s not going to get too high. If things are going bad, he’s not going to get too low. You’re going to trust that he’s here to be great.”

This is the second year in a row that Bichette has been nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award, as he continues to expand his work in the community. He’s honored to have his name mentioned alongside one of the game’s all-time greats.

“[Clemente] did a lot of amazing things,” Bichette said. “Not only for the sport — but for people, in general, his hometown and home country. He’s just [an] amazing person from what you hear and I’m definitely thankful to be recognized in his name.”