ST. PETERSBURG -- Blue Jays prospect Bo Bichette has withdrawn from the upcoming Arizona Fall League because of lingering knee and elbow soreness.
The AFL is set to get underway on Oct. 9, and Bichette was originally expected to be one of the top prospects in attendance. Instead, the Blue Jays have decided to replace him with second baseman Santiago Espinal.
"Bo Bichette experienced some minor elbow and knee soreness at the end of the Eastern League playoffs that will require a conservative course of treatment and rest," a team spokesman said while reading a statement from the club. "It should not affect his offseason or Spring Training."
Per MLB Pipeline, Bichette is Toronto's No. 2 overall prospect behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and he's ranked No. 9 in all of baseball. The 20-year-old appeared in 131 games for Double-A New Hampshire this season, and he hit .286/.343/.453 with 11 home runs and 74 RBIs.
Espinal is a 23-year-old from the Dominican Republic, who was acquired from Boston as part of the midseason deal for outfielder Steve Pearce. He appeared in 42 games for New Hampshire and hit .286 with 12 extra-base hits and 20 RBIs.
Right-handers Zach Jackson, Jackson McClelland and Nate Pearson, left-hander Shawn Morimando, second baseman Cavan Biggio and Guerrero are among those who will be representing the Blue Jays while playing for the Surprise Saguaros, who will be managed by Canadian Stubby Clapp.