Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Former Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette was apparently not a fan of the turf at the Rogers Centre which apparently played a part in his decision.
A new report says Bichette has privately worried about the physical toll of playing half his games on the Rogers Centre's artificial surface.
Mark Feinsand wrote the concern could factor into his free-agent decision.
"According to sources, Bichette has privately expressed concern about the physical impact of playing half of his games on the artificial turf at Rogers Centre, which could play into his ultimate decision.» -Mark Feinsand
While this was likely not the only factor that made Bichette leave Toronto, it seems to have played a role in is decision according to Feinsand.
TheScore added more context that matters for fans, tying the surface chatter to a recent run of lower-body issues and noting the concern may grow as Bichette ages. Even if turf isn't the only reason, it's a real variable.
Bo Bichette questions Rogers Centre turf
If you're a Jays fan, you read «turf» and instantly worry it's one more thing pushing stars away.
What makes this sting is how good Bichette still was when healthy. In 2025 he played 139 games and hit .311 with 181 hits, 18 home runs, and a .840 OPS, which is the exact profile you build a lineup around.
That's why the turf conversation isn't just gossip, it's leverage.
When a player can point to comfort and longevity, it's a cleaner argument than «I want out,» and it's harder for the team to counter.
From Toronto's side, it also lands at a brutal time because the club already has roster plans built around life after Bichette.
Feinsand even laid out the internal dominoes, with Andrés Giménez sliding to short and Kazuma Okamoto factoring into the infield mix.
My opinion is the Blue Jays can't treat this as only a Bichette issue.
If elite free agents start viewing the surface as a negative, it becomes a recruiting problem, the kind that quietly costs you a winter.
At the same time, fans shouldn't pretend Bichette's concern erases everything else, including money, role, and market.
It's just one more reason the reunion felt fragile even before it broke.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 20|476 ANSWERS Bo Bichette takes aim at the Rogers Centre in recent comments Do you think Rogers Centre turf played a real role in Bo Bichette leaving the Toronto Blue Jays? | ||
| Big factor | 76 | 16 % |
| Small factor | 194 | 40.8 % |
| No chance | 167 | 35.1 % |
| Not sure | 39 | 8.2 % |
| List of polls | ||