Blue Jays Activate Cavan Biggio
Cavan Biggio will return to the Blue Jays this weekend in Boston, the team announced Friday.
Biggio has been out with a cervical spine ligament sprain since May 22 and began a rehab stint earlier this week. The infielder/outfielder hit a home run in three rehab games for Triple-A Buffalo. In a corresponding moves, the Jays sent Santiago Espinal down to Triple-A to make room for Biggio.
In 39 games with Toronto in 2021, Biggio hit .205 with a .315 on base percentage and hit three homers. Though Biggio got out to a cold start at the plate and in the field, in the two weeks prior to his injury the 26-year-old was beginning to show flashes with the bat, raising is on base rate and slugging percentage. Biggio said he felt neck pain for a few weeks, and his time on the IL was used to get healthy and implement a treatment plan to prevent flareups.
“All aspects it effected," Biggio said. "It was just overall discomfort in all parts of my game.”
Biggio had been dealing with neck pain for a "few weeks" before he went on the IL in May. He is now feeling healthy and with a treatment plan in place, so we'll see if his numbers tick closer to his career norms #BlueJays
— Mitch Bannon (@MitchBannon) June 11, 2021
In the absence of Biggio, the Blue Jays have stuck to a platoon at third base, with Santiago Espinal and Joe Panik seeing a bulk of the playing time. Though neither brings a deadly offensive profile, the pair played solid defense at the hot corner. Manager Charlie Montoyo said though Biggio can still move around the diamond, he will return to third often after being activated.
The Blue Jays begin a four-game set against the Red Sox Friday. Biggio's bat could make an immediate impact as Toronto will match up against three right-handed starters.
Further Reading:
Eight Blue Jays On Baseball America's New Top 100 Prospects List
Mitch Bannon is a baseball reporter for Sports Illustrated covering the Toronto Blue Jays and their minor league affiliates.Twitter: @MitchBannon