Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com AUGUST 2019 57 IRISH IN THE PROS BY STEVE DOWNEY C onsidering his last name and pedigree, former Fighting Irish standout Cavan Biggio has not been able to fly under the radar very often during his base- ball career. This season, however, an influx of talented young play- ers have arrived on the scene for Major League Baseball. On his own team, the Toronto Blue Jays, Biggio — whose fa- ther, Craig, put together a Hall- of-Fame career over 20 years with the Houston Astros — has been overshadowed by the long- awaited arrival of top-ranked prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. However, despite a slow start, Biggio — who began the sea- son as Toronto's No. 9 prospect per Baseball America — has done nothing but impress his coaches and teammates since making his major league debut May 24. "Everything," Blue Jays man- ager Charlie Montoyo told The Athletic when asked what Big- gio does well. "He plays to win. He backs up plays wherever he plays. He pulls for his team- mates. Great on-base percentage. "His average doesn't show how good he's swinging the bat; he's hit a lot of balls hard." Even during an opening stretch that saw him produce only six hits in his first 41 at-bats (.146 average) with Toronto, the 24-year-old Biggio dis- played patience and plate discipline beyond his years. Heading into the All-Star break July 8-11, Biggio led the major leagues with a 13.6 O-Swing percentage (per FanGraphs), which measures the frequency that batters swing at pitches outside of the strike zone (the major league average is 30.9 percent), while his 17.0 percent walk rate was tied for fourth. "His at-bats have translated to ex- actly what they were in the minor leagues to up here in the big leagues where he's controlling the strike zone, swinging at good pitches," said Blue Jays' coach John Schneider, who managed Biggio in the minors the last two seasons. "I know his average is what it is, but he leads our team in a lot of different things that we track in terms of commanding the zone." In his first 42 contests with the Blue Jays, Biggio sported a .227 average with a .349 on-base percentage, six home runs, 23 RBI and six steals. However, his patient approach has re- sulted in steadily improving produc- tion. In Toronto's final 24 games lead- ing into the All-Star break, he hit .311 with a .427 on-base percentage, five home runs, 20 RBI and three steals. "I just think where I wasn't finding hits, I was still having really good at- bats," Biggio told The Athletic when asked about what he did to improve. "I was still getting on base, and even when I was putting balls in play, I was still finding barrels and they just weren't having much luck. "I think just getting out of my own head, just realizing what I've been able to do thus far, just getting on base and putting the barrel on the ball — just being able to stick with that." Biggio has also excelled defen- sively, while displaying the versa- tility to play all over the diamond. He has been used primarily at se- cond base (30 games), but has also seen action at first base (six), right field (seven) and left field (one) . "His approach is so far beyond his years," Blue Jays starter Clay- ton Richard said. "It's incredible watching. Then on the defensive end, some of the things he does, you can see he's thinking ahead of the game, which the elite play- ers do on defense. "They don't just react, they have already gone through the possible scenarios in their head and are ready for whatever happens. He does that at an elite level already. And he's only been here for how- ever long. It's impressive." NOTRE DAME IN MLB Through July 15 • John Axford (Played at Notre Dame from 2002-05), RHP, Toronto Blue Jays: Has yet to pitch this season due to a stress reaction in his right elbow … Reportedly began a long- toss program in late June, but still did not have a timetable for his return. • Cavan Biggio (2014-16), 2B, Toronto Blue Jays: Made his major league debut May 24 … Hit .227 with six homers, 23 RBI and six steals in his first 42 contests … Notched his first career MLB hit and then belted his first home run as part of a 3-for-4 performance in a 10-1 win over San Diego May 26. • Trey Mancini (2011-13), 1B/OF, Baltimore Ori- oles: Played in 87 of the Orioles' first 93 contests, seeing time at designated hitter, first base, right field and left field … Hitting .281 with 17 home runs and 40 RBI. • David Phelps (2006-08), RHP, Toronto Blue Jays: Returned to action June 17 after completing his recovery from Tommy John surgery … Has made 11 relief appearances, compiling a 3.27 ERA, two holds and 12 strikeouts over 11 innings of work. • A.J. Pollock (2007-09), OF, Los Angeles Dodg- ers: Was sidelined from April 29-July 11 due to a right elbow infection that required surgery … Returned to action following the All-Star break, and was 6 for 14 with two homers and six RBI in his first three contests back … Batting .248 with four homers and 20 RBI over 31 games. • Jeff Samardzija (2003-06), RHP, San Francisco Giants: Has made 19 starts … Was 7-7 with a 3.93 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 105⅓ innings. ✦ Cavan Biggio Impresses After His Major League Debut Biggio hit .311 with a .427 on-base percentage, five home runs, 20 RBI and three steals for the Blue Jays in his last 24 games prior to the All-Star break. PHOTO COURTESY TORONTO BLUE JAYS