The New York Mets took two out of three games from the crosstown rival New York Yankees in this weekend’s MLB Subway Series, but new shortstop Bo Bichette has not joined the team in turning the corner. The 28-year-old, who signed a three-year, $126 million contract this past offseason, is batting just .210 with a .531 OPS through 46 games — the fifth-worst mark in the league.
“There are a lot of things I didn’t anticipate,” Bichette said, per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. The admission is striking for a player who spent the first seven years of his career as a Blue Jay, where he was a two-time All-Star and one of the most consistent contact hitters in the American League. Now, in the bright lights of Queens, the adjustment has been anything but smooth.
What the MLB Subway Series Revealed About Bichette’s Slump
The Subway Series served as a magnifying glass for Bichette’s early struggles. While the Mets won the series and began building momentum at 20-26, Bichette’s bat remained cold. He has played in every game this season, a testament to his durability, but the production has not matched the contract. His .531 OPS ranks among the worst in baseball, and the gap between expectation and reality has become impossible to ignore.
Breaking down the advanced metrics, the picture is nuanced. Bichette’s contact rate has dipped only slightly from his Toronto numbers, suggesting the issue is not a fundamental mechanical breakdown. Rather, the data points to a hitter pressing — expanding his chase zone, swinging at pitches on the edges, and failing to barrel the ball with the same frequency. The mental weight of a new city, a new lineup, and a massive paycheck appears to be compounding at the plate.
Bichette Admits the Pressure Is Real
“I don’t know if it’s been the toughest stretch of my career,” Bichette said, a telling admission from a player who has faced high-leverage at-bats in the American League East for years. He went on to acknowledge that he has been pressing while trying to live up to his gaudy contract. “Being on a new team, I just want to help the team, first off,” he said.
That desire to contribute may be working against him. Hitters who press tend to overswing, and the numbers bear that out. Bichette’s ground-ball rate has climbed while his line-drive rate has fallen — a classic profile of a player trying to do too much. The Mets’ front office, led by David Stearns, invested heavily in Bichette’s track record of consistency, banking on the idea that his bat-to-ball skills would translate regardless of zip code. Through the first quarter of 2026, that bet has not paid off.
Key Developments
- Bichette has played in all 46 of the Mets’ games this season, showing durability despite his offensive struggles.
- The Mets entered the Subway Series at 18-26 and left it at 20-26 after taking two of three from the Yankees.
- Bichette’s .531 OPS ranks as the fifth-worst mark among all qualified hitters in Major League Baseball.
- The three-year, $126 million deal carries an average annual value of $42 million, making it one of the largest contracts ever given to a shortstop.
- Bichette spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he earned two All-Star selections.
What Comes Next for Bichette and the Mets
The Mets are showing signs of life, and the Subway Series victory could prove to be a turning point for a club that has underperformed relative to its payroll. But Bichette’s slump remains the elephant in the clubhouse. If the Mets are to climb back into the National League Wild Card picture, they need their $126 million shortstop to produce at something closer to his Toronto baseline. The talent is not in question — his career .293 batting average and .773 OPS speak to a proven hitter. The question is whether the adjustment period stretches deeper into the summer.
There is precedent for slow starts resolving themselves. Players who switch leagues often need time to recalibrate to new pitching staffs, new ballparks, and new routines. Bichette’s underlying contact skills suggest the floor is far above where he is now. Still, in a city that demands results and a front office that committed significant resources, patience is a finite commodity. The next month will be telling.
How has Bo Bichette performed since signing with the Mets?
Bichette is batting .210 with a .531 OPS through 46 games in 2026, the fifth-worst mark among qualified hitters in Major League Baseball. He has admitted to pressing and struggling to adjust to his new surroundings.
What did the Mets accomplish in the 2026 MLB Subway Series?
The Mets took two out of three games from the crosstown rival New York Yankees in this weekend’s Subway Series, improving their record to 20-26 and building momentum after a slow start to the season.
What is Bo Bichette’s contract with the Mets worth?
Bichette signed a three-year, $126 million contract with the Mets, carrying an average annual value of $42 million. It is one of the largest deals ever given to a shortstop in MLB history.
Why is Bichette struggling according to his own words?
Bichette said there were “a lot of things I didn’t anticipate” about joining a new team and admitted he has been pressing while trying to live up to his contract. He emphasized that he wants to help the team above all else.