After Bo Bichette tweaks right knee, Blue Jays acquire Paul DeJong

All-Star shortstop Bo Bichette left Monday night's game after suffering a right leg injury rounding first base, a potentially pivotal development that prompted the Toronto Blue Jays to trade for insurance just hours before Major League Baseball's trade deadline.

Bichette, the AL leader in hits (142) and batting average (.318), singled to right field in the third inning of Toronto's game against first-place Baltimore, and after stopping suddenly between first and second, keeled over in pain. He was tagged for the final out of the inning before he could return to first base.

The Blue Jays announced Bichette left the game due to right knee discomfort.

Bichette was to undergo testing early Tuesday and by midday, the club had acquired shortstop Paul DeJong from the St. Louis Cardinals. Toronto has not yet provided an update on Bichette's condition.

Toronto enters Tuesday's play 59-48 and holding a 2 1/2-game lead over the Boston Red Sox for the third and final wild-card spot in the AL. The Blue Jays are also 6 1/2 games behind the Orioles as the clubs continue their four-game series at Rogers Centre.

The Blue Jays already signaled their intent to invest in their roster at the trade deadline, acquiring former St. Louis Cardinals closer Jordan Hicks to replace Jordan Romano, who is out with a lower back injury. The club wasn't necessarily in the market for a middle infielder, but Bichette's injury apparently forced a pivot before Tuesday night's 6 ET trade deadline.

Bichette ranks seventh in the AL among position players with a 4.0 Wins Above Replacement, and trails only Matt Chapman (4.5) among Blue Jays. DeJong, 29, an All-Star in 2019, was batting .233 with 13 home runs and a 97 adjusted OPS in 81 games with St. Louis. He's the third Cardinal acquired by the Blue Jays in recent weeks, joining Hicks and reliever Genesis Cabrera.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Blue Jays' Bo Bichette leaves game with right knee discomfort