Biggio hits for cycle in Jays win
Historic feat only accomplished two other times by Jays
It was business as usual for Cavan Biggio on Tuesday afternoon at Camden Yards. Or so it seemed, anyway.
He went about his usual pregame routine, both hitting and fielding, and as Biggio got set to begin the final road trip of his rookie season with the Toronto Blue Jays, he talked about finishing up strong.
And man did he deliver that and more by putting on a show that jumped right into the team’s record books.
The Jays second baseman had a night he won’t ever forget, hitting for the cycle in his team’s 8-5 win over the lowly Orioles. A ninth-inning triple drove in a pair of insurance runs and complemented a two-run homer in the third, a single in the sixth and double in the eighth to finish off the historic performance.
Biggio became just the third Jays player to hit for the cycle and the first to do so since Jeff Frye back in August of 2001. The only other Toronto hitter to accomplish the incredible feat was Kelly Gruber in 1989.
As rugged as a rookie season in the big leagues can be, Biggio hasn’t been daunted by the grind and said as much prior to his magical night.
“I just want to continue to play hard every day, finish strong and go out to the off season and next year with some momentum and some positivity,” Biggio said. “Yes it’s a grind, but I feel good and I feel healthy. I want to take mindset into the final two weeks.” Mission accomplished. Sometimes slotted below higher profile rookies Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette on this rookie-heavy Jays lineup, Biggio has made his mark in his freshman campaign. He added a couple of stolen bases to on Tuesday, making him a perfect 13-for-13 in attempts setting a club record for successful steals to start his career.
One of the hardest workers on the team, Biggio acknowledged the season has been a grind at times but is determined to finish up strong.
“Obviously being in the big leagues, it’s less of a grind than in the minor leagues with the lifestyle and stuff,” the poised second baseman said after his four RBI effort. “But it’s definitely tough when it’s something you’ve never really done, My body’s a little bit tired, but mentally I just want to keep on playing.”
Manager Charlie Montoyo has been extremely proud of his young players and acknowledged on Tuesday that the final two weeks won’t be easy for them. Most haven’t played into September, with minor league seasons ending in August. And with 91 losses piled up, it hasn’t been easy.
Montoyo has sensed some of the energy waning from his youngsters, pointing out the recent slump by third baseman Vlad Guerrero Jr. Any rookie of the year talk for the big third baseman has now been erased, in part because Vlad Jr. hasn’t hit a homer in 19 games, the longest drought in his career.
But playing through it will only make them stronger the next time they play some September baseball.
“You can tell (it’s wearing on them),” said Montoyo, who also is sniffing the finish line of his first season as a major league manager. “Vladdy is slumping a little bit because he’s trying harder. He’s never been to this spot. Now he needs to make an adjustment. You can tell them from experience, but the best experience is you going through it.”
And as Biggio showed on Tuesday, he’s been learning rather well.