There is plenty to watch for in Toronto tonight as both Josh Naylor and Cavan Biggio are expected to make their big league debuts on opposing clubs.
I have been on record stating Naylor might be my favorite person in baseball right now, as he regularly has the entire dugout laughing and does a great job keeping a clubhouse loose, but he is a heck of a ballplayer too. Originally drafted 12th overall in 2015 by the (then) Florida Marlins, he was dealt to the San Diego Padres along with Luis Castillo, Jarred Cosart, and Carter Capps in exchange for Andrew Cashner, Collin Rea, and Tayron Guerrero. He has a .285 average in his minor league career, although he has improved upon his average every full season thus far and already has 10 home runs this season.
At 5’11” and 250 lbs., he has every bit the power you would expect and still has plus raw power to tap into, but he is much more athletic than his body type would suggest. He has a lot of moving parts in his swing, but the load always ends up in the same place allowing him to get to the ball quickly with a good line drive swing. In the field he is a quality first baseman but has a strong arm that has allowed the Padres to give him more time in the outfield. He probably fits best as a left fielder, but the arm will allow him to play just fine in right, making him a valuable piece than can legitimately play three of the four corners. It should come as no surprise he doesn’t exactly have a ton or range nor is he a burner on the bases, in fact he is well below average in both categories, but he can get a good head of steam once he gets going and will get some doubles on balls that are borderline.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays call up son of Hall of Fame Craig Biggio and one of the top second base prospects in the game, Cavan Biggio. Like his father, he can play multiple positions as he has seen time at first, second, third, left, and right this season as the Blue Jays hope he can be a super utility-man at the big league level, although he may be able to hit his way into regular playing time this season. While his dad was an excellent bat at the top of the lineup, Cavan is more of a power first bat who hit 26 home runs a season ago while posting a batting average that was just north of .250. The bat can get a little long but it creates the launch angle to hit for power where he can be a 20+ HR guy at the big league level.
His best tool after power would be his arm, which is strong enough to play right or third, where he might profile best as he is fringy with range and glove at second. If Cavan does become an everyday player, it will be a win for the Blue Jays, although him being a guy who gets a couple starts a week spelling players at multiple positions is a more likely long term role.
THREE QUARTER SLOT 