Cubs think backup catcher Higgins fits their style
The Cubs have put a premium on versatility and quality at-bats this season, so it makes sense to bring up catcher P.J. Higgins from Triple A.
He was the Iowa Cubs' leading hitter at .333, with a .458 on-base percentage. And he's not limited to being a backstop. In college at Old Dominion, he played more at second and third base than he did catcher. Higgins even played the outfield a couple times in Iowa this spring.
So the Cubs brought him up Wednesday and designated Tony Wolters for assignment. When the season was about to begin, it looked like Higgins would be with the big-league club as a replacement for the injured Austin Romine, but the Cubs picked up Wolters instead.
"Tony did a good job for us, we wish him the best," manager David Ross said before Wednesday's game. "I think Higgy, with some of the things we have going on, just gives us a little more versatility from the backup catcher role.
"He's played some middle infield and did a nice job catching. He's very versatile, contact-type bat. I think it's just time. We've liked Higgy for a long time and his skill set really fits us right now."
Higgins, 28, is a Wallingford, Conn., native and was a 12th round pick of the Cubs in 2015. He didn't play catcher at all during his first summer in the organization, but made it a focus in his second season.
"He's got some sock in his bat," Ross said. "He can handle the bat, he can do a lot of things. He's a phenomenal third baseman. They rave about his defense in the infield. I think he's a really good catcher. I like the way he handled the pitching staff, the game-calling, the preparation as the back end of spring training ramped up and we ran some things through him. When Romine was down, he did a great job.
"He got to get his timing down in Triple A, get some at-bats. Contact bat, driving the ball gap-to-gap. I don't know how much slug is in there until guys get up to the big leagues and you see how that is. Contact in the minors leagues is a definitely different than contact in the big leagues. I found that out really fast."
The Cubs play an afternoon game on Thursday against the Nationals and that's typically when Ross gives Willson Contreras a day off. Higgins will be the fifth Cubs player this season to make his major league debut.
"We'll see," Ross said. "I'm happy for him. I think he's put in a lot of hard work. He's a guy the organization thinks highly of. When you talk to the coaches that have seen this young man come up through the minors leagues, it's nothing but positive statements about who he is, how he plays, how he goes about his business and the kind of player that I think you can fall in love with.
"I like Higgy's skill set, known him a long time being a special assistant and now managing. I'm super happy all his hard work has paid off and he's here in the big leagues and gets to be in there and help us have a chance to win."
Twitter: @McGrawDHBulls