Dante Bichette Jr.
{{short description|Brazilian American baseball player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Dante Bichette Jr.
|caption = Dante Bichette Jr
|image = Dante_Bichette_Jr_(14245910138).jpg
|position = Third baseman / First baseman
|bats = Right
|throws = Right
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1992|9|26.32}}
|birth_place = Orlando, Florida
}}
Alphonse Dante Bichette Jr. (born September 26, 1992) is an Brazilian American artist and semi professional baseball third baseman and first baseman. He was drafted by the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the first round of the 2011 MLB draft.
Early life and career
Bichette was born in Orlando, Florida, in 1992. His father Dante Bichette, is a former Major League Baseball player.{{cite web|author=Troy E. Renck |url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/rockies/2012/04/01/father-son-dante-bichette-jr-blasts-2-hrs/11187/ |title=Dante Bichette thrilled as Dante Jr. hits two HRs for Yankees |publisher=Blogs.denverpost.com |date=April 1, 2012 |access-date=April 12, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.trentonian.com/article/TT/20110607/SPORTS/306079956 |title=YANKEES: Dante Bichette, Jr., looks to follow in father's footsteps |date=March 28, 2014 |publisher=Trentonian.com |access-date=April 12, 2018}} His brother, Bo, plays for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Bichette played in the 2005 Little League World Series, representing Maitland, Florida.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nhregister.com/sports/article/Little-League-hero-Dante-Bichette-Jr-still-11346069.php|title=Little League hero Dante Bichette Jr. Still trying to make it as a pro in Yankee organization|date=August 15, 2015}}{{cite news| url=http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_18227443 | work=Denver Post | first=Benjamin | last=Hochman | title=New York Yankees draft Dante Bichette Jr | date=June 8, 2011}} One of his teammates was future MLB player Max Moroff, and the team's two assistant coaches were Mike Stanley and Dante Bichette. During his senior year at Orangewood Christian High School, he batted .640 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs in 30 games.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/17487/bichette-jr-hopes-to-play-for-uncle-joe |title=Bichette Jr. hopes to play for 'Uncle Joe' - Yankees Blog |publisher=ESPN |date=June 7, 2011 |access-date=April 12, 2018}}
Professional career
=New York Yankees=
Bichette was drafted 51st overall in the 2011 Major League Baseball draft by the New York Yankees.{{cite web|last=Hochman |first=Benjamin |url=http://www.denverpost.com/2011/06/07/new-york-yankees-draft-dante-bichette-jr/ |title=New York Yankees draft Dante Bichette Jr. – The Denver Post |publisher=Denverpost.com |date=June 7, 2011 |access-date=April 12, 2018}}{{cite news|last=Feinsand |first=Mark |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-06-19/sports/29696827_1_joe-girardi-damon-oppenheimer-draft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531081857/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-06-19/sports/29696827_1_joe-girardi-damon-oppenheimer-draft |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 31, 2012 |title=New York Yankees waste no time, sign 2011 first draft pick Dante Bichette Jr. for $750,000 |work=New York Daily News |date=June 19, 2011 |access-date=August 19, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110618&content_id=20673580&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |title=Yankees sign first-round Draft pick Dante Bichette Jr. | MLB.com: News |publisher=Mlb.mlb.com |access-date=August 19, 2011}}{{cite web|last=Marchand |first=Andrew |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/17462/watch-out-a-rod-yanks-list-bichette-jr-as-3rd-baseman |title=Watch out A-Rod, Yanks list Bichette Jr. as 3rd baseman – Yankees Blog – ESPN New York |publisher=Espn.go.com |date=January 2, 2010 |access-date=August 19, 2011}}{{cite web|author=Noah K. Murray/The Star-Ledger |url=http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2011/06/yankees_choose_dante_bichette.html |title=Yankees choose Dante Bichette Jr. with 51st overall pick of first-year draft |date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=NJ.com |access-date=August 19, 2011}} He debuted in the Minor Leagues as part of the Yankees Gulf Coast League team, the GCL Yankees on June 20, 2011.
Bichette spent the 2017 season with the Double–A Trenton Thunder, playing in 72 games and hitting .262/.352/.353 with four home runs and 33 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2017.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2017|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2017/?amphtml|access-date=April 28, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}
=St. Paul Saints=
On December 23, 2017, Bichette signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/minor-mlb-transactions-122317.html|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 12/23/17|last=Downing|first=Kyle|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=December 23, 2017|access-date=December 23, 2017}} He was released on March 28, 2018.
On April 2, 2018, Bichette signed with the St. Paul Saints of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.{{cite web|url=http://saintsbaseball.com/team/news/dantes-inferno-saints-sign-former-yankees-first-rounder-infielder-bichette-jr/|title=Dante's Inferno: Saints Sign Former Yankees First Rounder, Infielder Bichette Jr.|publisher=St. Paul Saints|access-date=April 2, 2018}} In 99 games for the Saints, he batted .310/.355/.434 with nine home runs and 52 RBI.
=High Point Rockers=
On February 21, 2019, Bichette was traded to the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He was named Atlantic League Player of the Month for April and May. Bichette appeared in 36 games for the Rockers, batting .386/.412/.514 with three home runs and 23 RBI.{{cite tweet |last=Finney |first=Blake |user=FinneyBlake |number=1137007077803659266 |date=June 7, 2019 |title=The #Nationals have signed Dante Bichette Jr. to a minor league deal from the High Point Rockers. He was slashing .397/.424/.529 with three homers in 35 games with High Point and was the April/May player of the month. |language=en |access-date=June 14, 2021}}
=Washington Nationals=
On June 7, 2019, Bichette's contract was purchased by the Washington Nationals organization.{{Cite web|title=Nationals Sign Dante Bichette Jr.|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/06/nationals-sign-dante-bichette-jr.html|access-date=July 20, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} He spent the remainder of the year with the Double–A Harrisburg Senators, batting .297/.348/.402 with two home runs and 33 RBI across 73 games.{{Cite web|title=MLB: hoping we haven't seen the last of Dante Bichette Jr.|url=https://calltothepen.com/2020/06/03/mlb-hoping-havent-seen-last-dante-bichette-jr/|access-date=July 20, 2024|website=calltothepen.com|language=en}} Bichette elected free agency following the season on November 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2019/|title=Minor League Free Agents 2019|author=Matt Eddy|website=Baseball America|date=November 7, 2019|access-date=November 7, 2019}}
On December 26, 2019, Bichette re-signed with the Nationals on a minor league contract. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=July 20, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}} Bichette was released by the Nationals organization on May 31, 2020.
International career
Bichette represented Brazil in the 2016 and 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualififers. Both Bichette and his brother Bo Bichette have played for Brazil in the WBC due to their mother Mariana being a native of Porto Alegre, Brazil. Their maternal grandfather is of Chinese descent.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/17617500/hall-famer-barry-larkin-ambitious-plans-grow-baseball-brazil |title=Hall of Famer Barry Larkin has ambitious plans to grow baseball in Brazil |work=Espn.com |date=September 23, 2016 |access-date=April 12, 2018}}
Personal life
Bichette’s father, Dante, is a former Major League Baseball player and four-time All-Star. His younger brother, Bo, currently plays with the Toronto Blue Jays.{{cite web|url=http://usatodayhss.com/2016/bo-bichette-lakewood-all-usa-baseball|title=ALL-USA Watch: Bo Bichette has been bombing away for Lakewood (Fla.) baseball|date=May 2, 2016|access-date=June 10, 2016}}
On June 11, 2024, Bichette alleged that his father Dante had abused him as a child while playing youth baseball. He wrote that his father would beat him during or after bad performances and physically fought coaches, spectators and "many" umpires.{{Cite web|title=Dante Bichette Jr. says ex-Blue Jays staffer dad abused him as a child|url=https://dailyhive.com/toronto/dante-bichette-blue-jays-coach-abuse|access-date=June 14, 2024|website=dailyhive.com|language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|brm=bichet000dan|fangraphs=sa597776|mlb=605142|espn=32137}}
- [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=605142 Dante Bichette, Jr. Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703194836/http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=605142 |date=July 3, 2011 }}
{{2011 MLB Draft}}
{{New York Yankees first-round draft picks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bichette, Dante Jr.}}
Category:American sportspeople of Brazilian descent
Category:American sportspeople of Chinese descent
Category:Baseball players from Orlando, Florida
Category:Baseball first basemen
Category:Baseball second basemen
Category:Baseball third basemen
Category:Charleston RiverDogs players
Category:Gulf Coast Yankees players
Category:Harrisburg Senators players
Category:High Point Rockers players
Category:Scottsdale Scorpions players
Category:St. Paul Saints players
Category:Staten Island Yankees players