The New York Mets had several vote-getters in MLB.com's 2026 stat leader predictions, with INF Bo Bichette finishing as the NL runner-up in batting average.
After the New York Mets saw its top record in Major League Baseball during the first half of the season fizzle into missing the playoffs in 2025, it was obvious that major changes needed to happen in the offseason.
And major changes did occur, as the Mets offloaded nearly one-third of its 2025 roster with many of its star players and fan favorites joining new teams in free agency or via trade.
Among the most notable players brought in to replace the likes of first baseman Pete Alonso, outfielder Brandon Nimmo, second baseman Jeff McNeil and closer Edwin Diaz is former Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, who had a fantastic season which nearly culminated in a World Series championship in 2025.
Bichette, a two-time All-Star, signed a three-year, $126 million contract (with opt-outs) with the Mets as a pivot from outfielder Kyle Tucker. But that’s not a knock on Bichette, who is one of the game’s best contact hitters – Bichette led the American League in hits in 2021 (191) and 2022 (189) while displaying a lot of power for a middle infielder (73 doubles, 53 home runs, 195 RBI in 318 games during that stretch).
Bichette’s .311 batting average last season was tied with the Athletics’ Jacob Wilson for second-best in MLB, behind only New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge. Because of this, 57 MLB.com staff members who predicted MLB’s stat leaders from each league for the 2026 season voted Bichette to be the runner-up to San Francisco Giants first baseman Luis Arraez as National League batting champ.
“This was another close vote, with Arraez beating out Bichette -- now in the NL with the Mets after spending the first seven seasons of his Major League career with the Blue Jays -- by two votes,” Manny Randhawa wrote Sunday.
“Bichette finished tied with Arraez for second in MLB in hits last season (181) despite missing nearly the entire month of September due to a knee injury. Even with a subpar, injury-plagued 2024 campaign, Bichette is a career .294 hitter.”
He might not be a great fielder, but Bichette can rake and he’s shown that he can be an offensive catalyst when healthy.
Bichette wasn’t the only Met to gain votes for other stats, but he was the only finalist.
Star outfielder Juan Soto received votes for batting average and home runs, but he didn’t get votes to lead in stolen bases despite being tied for the NL-lead with 38 a season ago.
Right-hander Freddy Peralta, who was another big-name acquired by the Mets during the offseason, received votes for ERA and strikeouts.
Righty reliever Devin Williams racked up some votes to lead the NL in saves, while former Met and current Los Angeles Dodger Diaz is the front-runner to win this category.