Bo Bichette’s emotional return to Toronto as a member of the New York Mets this week brought back memories of one of the most successful stretches in recent Blue Jays history. It also served as a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in Major League Baseball.
After spending seven seasons in Toronto, Bichette was welcomed back with a standing ovation from Blue Jays fans, who recognized one of the franchise’s defining players of the past decade.
But amid the emotions of the visit, Bichette also reflected on his longtime friendship with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., whose difficult 2026 season has become one of the biggest storylines surrounding Toronto and has ultimately been a major factor in the team’s struggles to retain their momentum from last year.
New York Mets Star Bo Bichette Sends ‘Lowest’ Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr Message Amid Struggles
Speaking shortly before his return to the Rogers Centre batter’s box, Bichette emphasized the bond he built with Guerrero during their years together, while acknowledging that both players have experienced unexpected challenges throughout their careers.
“We went through it all together. The one goal we had together, we didn’t accomplish it,” Bichette said of Guerrero during an emotional media session on Monday, according to MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson. “I’ve seen him at his lowest, he’s seen me at mine. Vice versa, too, at our highest.”
The message underscores how closely the two stars were linked during Toronto’s rise from rebuilding club to perennial contender, as well as he duo’s failure to win a World Series title. Together, though, they helped lead the Blue Jays to multiple postseason appearances while becoming two of the faces of the franchise.
But it also called attention to the fact that both star players have been falling short of expectations after they split.
Toronto Blue Jays, Vladimir Guerrero Jr Search For Answers Amid Bo Bichette Reunion
Toronto’s struggles as a team have mirrored Guerrero’s disappointing production so far in his first season without Bichette.
“With the season more than halfway over and the calendar flipping to July, Guerrero has yet to hit a home run at Rogers Centre this season — a span of 42 games and 181 plate appearances,” Gabe Lacques reported for USA Today. “His home slugging percentage is .300, down from .436 a year ago, while he’s hit just seven home runs overall with an adjusted OPS of 94.”
Those numbers have fueled growing concern around a Blue Jays club that entered the season expecting Guerrero to anchor the lineup after signing a long-term extension.
Bichette, meanwhile, has struggled as well and his return to Toronto called attention to the fact that both the Mets and the Blue Jays are falling short in the standings as their star players flounder without each other.
“Baseball’s cruel realities have weighed on all of these characters from the moment the Blue Jays lost Game 7 to the Dodgers,” Matheson added. “Guerrero and Bichette both playing for below-.500 teams, both carrying an OPS below .700. This doesn’t look like them…”
Bichette’s perspective on his former running mate may offer some encouragement for Blue Jays fans. The Mets infielder knows better than anyone what Guerrero is capable of, having shared both the highs and lows of their careers together. His message on the “lowest” that the two have experienced together reflected not only the challenges they’ve faced, but also his confidence that difficult stretches don’t define elite players.
