POWER AGE
Last September, Cavan Biggio connected 0 with a John Means’ breaking ball. Biggio’s uppercut swing launched the pitch into the Buffalo night sky. The ball landed beyond the right-center field fence at the Blue Jays’ temporary home of Sahlen Field.
The home run was the 24th of Biggio’s short career, which totals 159 games heading into 2021.
Earlier in Biggio’s professional career, few saw him becoming a 20-homer threat. He was the son of Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, but he was not a top prospect He hit just 15 home runs in three seasons at Notre Dame, and 11 in his first two minor league seasons. Even last season, Biggio ranked in the 26th percentile for exit velocity in the major leagues.
Though not undersized, Biggio is wiry and certainly doesn’t have the form of a hulking slugger. He made himself into a solid power source thanks to a swing change, and, perhaps, a lively baseball. In the modern game, there are many stories like his.
Place yourself in the position of a scout or analyst in today’s game attempting to evaluate and project a hitter’s future power. From year to year, the
