Blue Jays Activate Bo Bichette, DFA Paul DeJong

The Blue Jays activated Bo Bichette off the injured list, bringing the star shortstop back for the first time since injuring his knee.

Bo Bichette is back.

The Blue Jays shortstop was activated from the injured list on Saturday, joining the team in Cincinnati after recovering from right patellar tendinitis. To make room for Bichette on the roster, the Blue Jays designated Paul DeJong for assignment.

Bichette has been out since July 31st with a knee injury, initially hurting it while rounding the bases. After sitting out for two weeks, Bichette played in two rehab games with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons this week, going four-for-five with a homer and three RBIs.

In Bichette's absence, infielders DeJong and Santiago Espinal have been carrying the load at shortstop. However, getting Bichette back into the lineup will bring a needed injection into Toronto's offense. The 25-year-old leads the American League in hits, on pace to do so for the third-straight season while posting a .321 average and .847 OPS.

DeJong, DFA'd to get Bichette back on the roster, hit .068 in 13 games with Toronto. The 29-year-old shortstop was acquired at the trade deadline for pitching prospect Matt Svanson. With Bichette back on the roster and Espinal holding down backup SS duties, DeJong didn't have an obvious path to playing time for the rest of the season.

Bichette's return came alongside a slew of IL activations for Toronto. Kevin Kiermaier and Trevor Richards also re-joined the Blue Jays off the IL on Friday. Kiermaier had been out since August 6th after cutting his arm on the Fenway Park fence in Boston while Richards was out with a neck strain for the last two weeks.