Blue Jays' Bichette included on World Series roster

Toronto Blue Jays star shortstop Bo Bichette is on the team's World Series roster.

Game 1 of the Fall Classic against the Los Angeles Dodgers will mark Bichette's first action since Sept. 6, when he suffered a sprained knee at Yankee Stadium. The injury forced him to miss most of the stretch run as well as the first two rounds of the playoffs.

How Bichette will be used by the Blue Jays remains to be seen. While he's ramped up his rehab process in recent days by running the bases and taking ground balls, he could still be forced to DH or even serve as a pinch hitter.

The possibility of a position change has also come up in recent days. Bichette, who's never played anywhere but shortstop in the majors, took grounders at short and second base Wednesday. He has just 30 minor-league games of experience at the keystone and last played the position in 2019.

"We're kind of coming right down to the wire with it," manager John Schneider said Thursday of where Bichette will play. "I could see all three of those things happening (short, second, and DH), to be honest with you. Just kind of have to talk to him after the workout today, see how comfortable he felt doing everything and make the best decision."

Bichette returning to his natural position would likely slide Andrés Giménez, who covered shortstop during his absence, back to second, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa assuming a backup role. Giménez would presumably remain at shortstop if Bichette plays second, while George Springer would stay in his DH role and Nathan Lukes and Davis Schneider platoon in left field.

Should Bichette move to DH, it would force Springer to play the outfield, something the former World Series MVP hasn't done since late September. The Jays' skipper said that Springer is "very" capable of playing defense despite coming off his own knee issue sustained from a hit-by-pitch during the ALCS. Lukes, Schneider, or Addison Barger could lose at-bats in that scenario.

Bichette, 27, hit .311/.357/.483 wth 18 homers and 94 RBIs over 139 games during the regular season. At the time of his injury, the two-time All-Star led the majors in hits (181) and doubles (44).

Infielder Ty France was also added to the roster, with Joey Loperfido and Yariel Rodriguez coming off.