Bo Bichette Buffalo Bison’s game used SSK Pro Maple I13S bat. Photo and video (MiLB TV) matched to 9 games between the period July 7 to July 25, 2019, collecting 13 Hits, 6 singles, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR’s and 6 RBI.
Bat exhibits heavy use, has been re-gripped and was last used on July 25th, 2019, two games before getting called up. This bat along with his MLB debut bat (which was also used in those last two Bison games) were brought to the big leagues, the bat pictured was likely used and broke during BP at the MLB level. Unusual about this bat is this minor league bat has MLB Authentication as the team ended up with the bat.
Characteristics include: SSK two toned model with a cupped end has a moderate coat of pine tar on the upper handle extending to the center brand. The barrel shows many ball and cleat marks as well as seam impressions on all sides. The handle and knob have been wrapped in a spiral of adhesive tape to enhance the grip and shows evidence of being re-gripped (which occurred on July 19th, 2019).
JaysFan
Bo Bichette 2020 MLB game used signature model Tucci TL-BO11-M (2020 was the first year of Bo’s signature model), 33.5 inch/31.5 ounce 1st playoff bat. This was the only season his signature model bat featured the old Tucci logo.
Photo matched to his first playoff games on September 29 and 30 and likely two additional games on September 25 and 27 to end the 2020 regular season. Bo bats from 2020 are extremely rare as he only played in 29 regular season games.
Photo matching this bat was difficult, I was able to narrow down the year, then got lucky as the bat saw some extended use (and more ball marks) after the season, but did not appear in any 2021 games. A rare example of an unbroken bat as traditionally Bo uses his bats until they break.
Characteristics are similar to previous bats discussed and features Bo’s trademark handle and knob wrapped in a spiral of adhesive tape to enhance the grip and also exhibits repeated seam impressions on the back of the barrel.
Bo bats are becoming harder to obtain as the team had no 2023 inventory available for sale as Bo kept them.
JaysFan
Bo Bichette 2021 MLB game used signature model Tucci TL-BO11-M, 33.5 inch/31.5 ounce bat. Photo matched to 6 games between the period May 25 to May 30, 2021, collecting 3 Hits, including 2 HR’s and 5 RBI during this first all-star season. Career HR #26, 27 (first two HRs at Yankee Stadium).
Bat exhibits heavy use and was last used on May 30th, 2021 (Game 2, 3rd AB). The bat has been MLB Authenticated.
Characteristics include: Tucci blonde two-toned model with a gloss finish and a cupped end has a moderate coat of pine tar on the upper handle extending to the center brand. The barrel shows many ball and cleat marks as well as seam impressions on all sides.
The handle and knob have been wrapped in a blue lizard grip (infrequent use of this grip) with a #11 decal affixed to the bottom. This specific bat was first used with his standard grey tape grip, he went no grip (for his 2 HRs), then added this blue lizard grip, which he seldomly uses. He was likely having some issue with grip at this point in the year and tried this blue grip once.
As noted earlier, Bo’s precise and hard contact on the back side of the barrel creates ball marks which are later ‘cleaned’ with repeated additional ball strikes over the same gloss finish area.
JaysFan
Bo Bichette 2021 MLB game used signature model Tucci TL-BO11-M, 33.5 inch/31.5 ounce bat. Photo matched to 8 games between the period June 8 (possibly earlier) to June 15, 2021, collecting 15 Hits, 10 singles, 2 doubles, 3 HR’s and 8 RBI during this first all-star season. Career HR #28, 29, 30.
Bat exhibits heavy use and was last used on June 15th, 2021 (4th AB). The bat has been MLB Authenticated.
Characteristics include: Tucci blonde two-toned model with a gloss finish and a cupped end has a moderate coat of pine tar on the upper handle extending to the center brand. The barrel shows many ball and cleat marks as well as seam impressions on all sides. The handle and knob have been wrapped in a grey spiral of adhesive tape to enhance the grip. The grey tape is a true sign of a Bo gamer, as most of his bats have this quality. He does on occasion use no grip, typically with a new bat, but he falls back to his ‘go to’ grey tape grip eventually. His BP bats do not have the grey tape as they either have no grip or tennis style grip.
As noted earlier, Bo’s precise and hard contact on the back side of the barrel creates ball marks which are later ‘cleaned’ with repeated additional ball strikes over the same gloss finish area. Note, this creates some confusion or second guessing when photo matching as ball marks are removed or become distorted, but overall there are too many other matches that can’t be ignored.
JaysFan
Bo Bichette 2021 MLB game used signature model Tucci TL-BO11-M (2020 was the first year of Bo’s signature model), 33.5 inch/31.5 ounce bat. Photo matched to 21 games between the period August 13 to September 5, 2021, collecting 23 Hits, 17 singles, 5 doubles, 1 HR and 4 RBI during this first all-star season. Career HR #37
This bat was used for approximately 12% of his season total at bats over the 3-week period. Bo’s bats can last over a month before breaking, which limits his supply of bats available to at most 25 in any given year, comparing this to Vlad Guerrero Jr, who uses at least 3 times as many bats.
Bat exhibits extreme use and was last used on September 5th, 2021 (1st AB). The bat has been MLB Authenticated.
Characteristics include: Tucci blonde two-toned model with a gloss finish and a cupped end has a moderate coat of pine tar on the upper handle extending to the center brand. The barrel shows many ball and cleat marks as well as seam impressions on all sides. The handle and knob have been wrapped in a spiral of adhesive tape to enhance the grip.
Bo’s precise and hard contact on the back side of the barrel creates ball marks which are later ‘cleaned’ with repeated additional ball strikes over the same gloss finish area. This can be seen on the blonde bat examples posted.
During 2021 and 2022, Bo swung a Tucci model alternating with varying colors, leading the American League in hits each year.
JaysFan
Bo Bichette MLB Debut game used Tucci TL-I13S-M, 33.5 inch/31.5 ounce bat. Photo and video matched to 9 games between the period July 29 to August 6, 2019, collecting his first 15 Hits, 6 singles, 6 doubles, 3 HR’s and 4 RBI. In addition, the bat has been matched to his last 2 Buffalo Bison games (July 27-28, 2019).
Bat exhibits heavy use was last used on August 6th, 2019 (1st AB). This bat along with his last MiLB bat (previous post) collectively represent his last 2019 MiLB hit and 3 home runs and his first MLB hit and 3 home runs. The bat has been MLB Authenticated.
Characteristics include: Tucci two toned model with a cupped end has a moderate coat of pine tar on the upper handle extending to the center brand. The barrel shows many ball and cleat marks as well as seam impressions on all sides. The handle and knob have been wrapped in a spiral of adhesive tape to enhance the grip.
Number #66 decal is affixed to the bottom of the bat, he wore #13 for the Bison’s but wore #66 in spring training of 2019, the Toronto Blue Jays selected Bichette in the second round, with the 66th overall selection of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.
During 2019 and 2020, Bo predominantly swung a Tucci model with varying colors.
MLB Record Bat: Bo set a new MLB record in extra base hits in the first 11 games of his career with 13. He is the first rookie with 9 straight games with extra base hits since Ted Williams in 1939. In addition, Bo set franchise records with 20 hits and an 11-game hit streak to start his career.
JaysFan