Player: Cavan Biggio
Position: 2B
DOB: April 11, 1995 (21 years old)
Height/Weight: 6’2″, 185 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/R
School: Notre Dame
Previously Drafted: 2013 (29th Round, PHI)
Background
Cavan Biggio was a top MLB prospect coming out of high school, and his status went beyond his famous bloodlines.
The son of Hall of Famer Craig Biggio was among the top high school infielders in his class and likely would have gone in the first few rounds in 2013 if he were viewed as signable.
Baseball America (No. 66) and MLB.com (No. 57) both ranked him among the top 100 prospects in the 2013 draft, but a strong commitment to Notre Dame caused him to slip to the 29th round, and he took his talents to South Bend.
After hitting .246/.329/.353 with 14 extra-base hits in 226 plate appearances as a true freshman, he turned in a breakout sophomore season.
Along with raising his OPS from .682 to .868, he also led the Fighting Irish in home runs (9), walks (50), slugging percentage (.406) and stolen bases (14).
On top of those solid offensive numbers, he also earned Rawlings Gold Glove honors for his defensive work at second base.
He continued his strong play into the summer, where he earned Cape Cod League All-Star honors, and he’s been one of the top hitters in the ACC so far this season.
Slotted in the leadoff spot, he’s currently batting .311/.473/.454 with 18 extra-base hits and 14 stolen bases.
Plate discipline and contact ability continues to be Biggio’s calling card, as he’s recorded significantly more walks (54) than strikeouts (32), and his .473 on-base percentage ranks in the top 50 nationally.
Pick Analysis
He’ll never put up eye-popping power or speed numbers, but Biggio’s advanced approach at the plate and plus defense give him the potential to be an everyday second baseman.
Here’s a scouting report on Biggio from Perfect Game:
Biggio has an unorthodox setup at the plate with a deep crouch and exaggerated high hand set, but his ability to track pitches cannot be overstated.
At times, he may get himself into tough counts by being a bit too selective, but by all accounts he has been able to toe the line between patient and passive much better this season than in the past.
He’s noticeably bigger than his father, and as a result owns a bit more raw power and strength, but he doesn’t project to be a middle-of-the-order type as his swing and approach is geared more towards solid line drives and setting the table for others. He’s a solid defender at second, who also has the athleticism to potentially play third base at the next level.
Biggio’s all-around polish means that, if nothing else, he should move quickly through the minors once he begins his pro career.
MLB Player Comparison: Todd Walker
The comparisons to his dad will be unavoidable, but Cavan is a different player. He hits from the left side of the plate, and his frame is a bit lankier than that of his 5’11” father, who began his career as a catcher.
Looking at the current MLB landscape, there’s really no perfect comparison among active players.
He has a similar offensive profile to Jason Kipnis, but he’ll never be a 20-steal threat. Perhaps the best comparison is Matt Carpenter during his time as a second baseman and prior to his power surge last season.
Instead, we’ll go back a few years to Todd Walker.
Though he was never an All-Star, Walker put together a solid 12-year MLB career during which he hit .289/.348/.435 and piled up 1,316 hits while averaging 36 doubles, 13 home runs and 69 RBI per 162 games.
Plate discipline was also the driving force behind his offensive value, as he posted an on-base percentage over .350 seven different times and had a solid 8.3 percent walk rate for his career.
If Biggio can put together that kind of career, he’ll be well worth the selection at this point.
Projection: Starting second baseman, potential No. 2 hitter
Major League ETA: 2020
Chances of Signing: 90 percent
Biggio has boosted his stock considerably since last spring, and in a relatively thin crop of college middle infielders he won’t have much to gain from returning to campus for his senior season.
College statistics courtesy of The Baseball Cube, unless otherwise noted, and accurate through Wednesday, June 8.
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