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Toronto Blue Jays are calling up prospect Cavan Biggio

By David Salituro

FORT MYERS, FL - MARCH 10: Cavan Biggio #67 of the Toronto Blue Jays at bat during the spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium on March 10, 2019 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FL - MARCH 10: Cavan Biggio #67 of the Toronto Blue Jays at bat during the spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium on March 10, 2019 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Blue Jays are calling up another one of their exciting prospects as Cavan Biggio will make his Major League debut this weekend

The Toronto Blue Jays will get a good look at what their future looks like starting on Friday.

Cavan Biggio, the ninth-ranked prospect in the Blue Jays organization, is being called up from Triple-A Buffalo tomorrow in time for the Blue Jays series against the San Diego Padres, according to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is also being recalled, while outfielder Billy McKinney and infielder Richard Urena are being sent down.

The addition of Biggio gives the Blue Jays another prospect with Hall of Fame pedigree in their lineup as they try to rebuild for the future. The son of Craig Biggio, Cavan was originally drafted by Toronto in the fifth round of the 2016 draft out of Notre Dame. In 41 games for Buffalo this season, he’s hitting .306 with six home runs, 26 RBI and a .440 OBP, fourth in the International League.

Biggio is a noted on-base machine. His 100 walks last year for Double-A New Hampshire were nearly 40 more than anyone else in the league. He’s currently tied for the Triple-A lead with 32 walks. While he doesn’t possess the prodigious power or the expectations of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., he did hit 26 home runs in 2018. He’s also a versatile fielder, having started games at first base, third base and in both left and right field this season while playing the majority of his games at second.

The Blue Jays defensive lineup in the middle of their infield so far this season can best be described as a revolving door. Five different players have started at second base, led by Eric Sogard with 20 games. If Biggio finds a regular spot in the lineup, he’ll join an infield that already includes rookies Rowdy Tellez at first and Guerrero at third. Shortstop Freddy Galvis, 29, is the only veteran among this group.

Biggio isn’t the only prospect expected to get the call up to Toronto this season. Bo Bichette, now the Blue Jays’ best prospect after Guerrero’s promotion and himself the son of former All-Star Dante Bichette, is also likely to make his debut later this year. Bichette, though, has been out since April with a broken bone in his hand but has resumed on-field activities and is set to begin taking batting practice this week.

For Gurriel, the call up to the big leagues is a chance to make amends after a slow start to the season. The 25-year-old had a breakthrough rookie campaign in 2018, but in 13 games so far in 2019, he’s hitting just .175 with no home runs. He’s hit .274 in 29 games since his demotion to Buffalo.

The Blue Jays are clearly a team with their eye on the future. After dropping 14 of 20 games in May, the club has fallen to 10 games under .500 and 12.5 games back of the AL East-leading New York Yankees. The debut of Guerrero on April 26 has been the lone bright spot in what’s shaping up to be a terrible season on the field. Blue Jays fans will get to celebrate another one of their young stars this weekend in Biggio, perhaps the only thing they have to look forward to the rest of 2019.

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