Blue Jays 2024 Season Preview: Infielders

UTL Cavan Biggio

After an up and down 2023 that had Biggio see time at a handful of positions and batting fifth at the end of the season, the former top prospect enters 2024 with his role up in the air.

Biggio was about a league average hitter last season, posting an OPS+ of 98 and a wRC+ of 103. This was done while showing phenomenal versatility, as he played a great second base as well as third base, first base, right field and even made an appearance at short-stop. Biggio entered 2023 without a concrete role. With Matt Chapman locked in at third and Whit Merrifield hitting his way into a starting role at second, Biggio was left to make the most out of his opportunities when given them. 

Biggio's calling card as always been his plate discipline, which showed this past year with a .340 OBP. In the past, power has usually came with that. But with no real consistent playing time, it seemed as though his quality of contact and batted balls took a hit. With a slugging percentage of just .370, the Blue Jays would like to see that number creep back up into the .400s like we saw in 2019 and 2020. Those were years where he was playing full-time, and it looks like that could be the case this year. 

The Blue Jays are without a full-time third baseman. With Justin Turner now in the fold, Davis Schneider should be pressed into more second base starts, pushing Biggio to third base as part of a platoon. Regular playing time has served Biggio well in the past, as over 159 games in 2019 and 2020 he posted a 116 OPS+ with a .368 OBP. It’s feasible that the Blue Jays are banking on this type of production from him, as he looks to be primed for an everyday role in 2024.

Barring an injury or the surprising acquisition of another infielder (maybe a re-signing of Matt Chapman), expect to see a lot of Biggio in 2024, with hopefully the best parts of his game on regular display.