Bo Bichette Brings His Bat to Queens - and the Mets Are Betting Big on It
If you polled Mets fans back in November, the answer was clear: this team needed a pure hitter. Someone who could lengthen the lineup, drive in runs, and give opposing pitchers something to think about beyond Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor.
Well, they got their guy. Bo Bichette is officially a Met - and he’s arriving in Queens with both high expectations and something to prove.
Just a couple years ago, Bichette was viewed as a franchise cornerstone in Toronto. Now, after a rollercoaster stretch north of the border, he’s the latest high-upside addition to a Mets roster that’s clearly pushing to win now. The question heading into 2026 isn’t whether Bichette can hit - he’s shown that in spades - but whether the version the Mets are getting is the one who looked like an All-Star again last season, or the one who struggled mightily just a year prior.
A Bounce-Back Bat in 2025
Let’s start with the good news: Bichette’s 2025 campaign was a firm reminder of what he’s capable of when healthy and locked in. After a rough 2024 season - where he managed just a 70 wRC+ and looked completely out of rhythm - Bichette bounced back in a big way.
He slashed .306/.339/.475 over 135 games, good for a 124 wRC+, and added 20 homers with 73 RBIs. That’s not just solid - that’s impact production from the right side of the plate.
What really stood out was his availability. After being limited to just 81 games in 2024, Bichette logged 601 plate appearances last year.
That kind of durability is huge for a Mets team that’s seen its fair share of injury setbacks in recent seasons. And while the surface numbers are impressive, the underlying data tells an even more encouraging story.
Under the Hood: Contact King, Defensive Question Mark
Dig into Bichette’s advanced metrics, and it’s clear: this guy can flat-out hit. He ranked in the 98th percentile in Expected Batting Average (xBA) and 86th percentile in Batting Run Value, meaning his .306 average wasn’t a fluke.
He was squaring balls up consistently and making high-quality contact. His 83rd percentile Hard-Hit Rate and 86th percentile Strikeout Rate back that up - he’s not just swinging for the fences, he’s putting the ball in play with authority.
But the flip side of that Baseball Savant page? The defense - and it’s not pretty.
Bichette ranked in the 1st percentile in Range and 4th percentile in Fielding Run Value. That’s essentially saying he was one of the worst defensive shortstops in the league last year.
Combine that with a declining arm (36th percentile) and below-average sprint speed (21st percentile), and it’s no surprise the Mets are planning to move him off shortstop.
Instead, he’s expected to shift over to third base - a position where his quick reactions can be more valuable than his lateral range. If he can be even average defensively at the hot corner, his bat should more than make up for any shortcomings. That’s the gamble the Mets are making, and it’s a calculated one.
2026 Outlook: A Reliable Middle-of-the-Order Threat
So what should Mets fans expect in 2026? If the projections are any indication, more of the same - and that’s a good thing.
The FanGraphs Depth Chart sees Bichette slashing .291/.338/.447 with 19 home runs and a 122 wRC+. That’s essentially a carbon copy of his 2025 production, with a slight dip in average likely due to the league switch.
Steamer and THE BAT X are similarly optimistic, projecting him to play around 152 games - a workload that would be music to the Mets’ ears. If he can post a .340 wOBA as projected, Bichette gives the Mets a high-contact, low-strikeout bat to pair with Lindor in the infield and in the lineup.
For a team that’s often leaned too heavily on power and struggled with consistency from the right side, Bichette brings a different dynamic. He’s not just a slugger - he’s a hitter. And in an era where quality contact is king, that’s exactly what the Mets needed.
Final Word
Bo Bichette may not be the perfect player - few are - but he brings a skillset that fits this Mets roster like a glove. If the glove itself holds up at third base, and the bat stays hot, New York might’ve just added the piece that ties their lineup together.
Bichette’s not here to be a savior - he’s here to be a solution. And if 2025 was any indication, he’s more than capable of delivering.