Sizzling Bichette smacks four hits for Lugnuts

Bo Bichette is pretty confident in his ability as a hitter, but even he didn't expect to be this dominant.
The ninth-ranked Blue Jays prospect collected four hits -- falling a home run shy of the cycle -- and raised his batting average to .390 in Class A Lansing's 7-3 loss to West Michigan on Saturday at Fifth Third Ballpark.

"I felt good tonight," Bichette said. "I was just worried about getting a good pitch and putting a good swing on it, and it worked out."
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The 2016 second-round pick reached on an infield single in the first inning and singled to center field leading off the third. He lined a triple to right to open the sixth, then slashed an RBI double to right with two outs in the sixth for his career-best fourth hit.
Bichette came to the plate with two outs in the eighth, aware that the cycle was a homer away.
"[Top Toronto prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr.] came up to me on-deck and was like, 'Hey, home run right here,'" he recalled. "But I wasn't trying to do it. I was just worried about, like I said, getting a good pitch and putting a good swing on it. If it went over, that would have been great, but that's all I was worried about."

The 19-year-old followed his plan, but a diving play by Whitecaps right fielder Jacob Robson robbed him of a fifth hit.
Bichette extended his hitting streak to 13 games. During that stretch, he's batting .463 (25-for-54) with three homers, 10 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
"I'm just paying attention to what pitchers are trying to do throughout the game, not just to me but to hitters that are like me," the native of Orlando, Florida, said. "Being diligent with my routines every day and really being an aggressive hitter and a smart hitter."
The 6-foot, 200-pound infielder's hot streak has pushed him to the top of the Midwest League batting race, 48 points ahead of Robson in second place. He's also third on the circuit with 19 doubles and 33 RBIs.
"Obviously, I don't think I really ever imagined myself hitting close to .400," Bichette said. "But I knew that I would do well. I've just kind of always done well. My preparation, hard work and all of that is definitely working out."
The son of former big leaguer Dante Bichette has stayed focused on continuing to improve.
"I think I just have to do my thing, not worry too much about what level I'm at or anything like that," he said. "Just keep on being aggressive, staying with my routine every day and continuing to mature as a player."

Guerrero singled twice and plated a run for the Lugnuts, while Edward Olivares went 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Osman Gutierrez (0-4), the Blue Jays' No. 26 prospect, was roughed up for six runs on five hits and two walks with one strikeout one over 1 2/3 frames.
West Michigan starter Spenser Watkins (3-1) allowed two runs on eight hits and two walks, fanning three, over five innings.
Robson singled and drove in three runs for the Whitecaps.