After seven seasons, 748 regular-season games, two all-star nods and one epic Game 7 home run in the World Series, Bo Bichette took the field at Rogers Centre as a visitor for the first time on Monday.
Making the trip to Toronto for his first series north of the border since signing a three-year, $126-million deal with the New York Mets in the off-season, Bichette made the rounds pre-game, catching up with his old teammates and speaking with the media.
Bichette teared up while reflecting on his time with the Blue Jays, saying he “gave everything he had” to the team after Toronto drafted him in 2016.
As both teams went through their warmups before first pitch, Toronto showed a video tribute to Bichette, drawing a standing ovation from the Rogers Centre crowd.
Bichette, batting third for the Mets, then got another round of applause as he came to the plate in the top of the first.
While Blue Jays starter Trey Yesavage ultimately won the opening battle with Bichette, inducing a 95.7 m.p.h. lineout to centre, it was ultimately a warm welcome to one of the greatest shortstops in Blue Jays history.
Here is a collection of some of the top sights and sounds from the emotional evening in Toronto:
