Tampa Bay Rays vs. AL East 2020 Preview: Toronto Blue Jays – 2B

The first installment of our evaluation of Tampa Bay Rays position players relative to the rest of the American League East in 2020. Today we focus on second base.

The Tampa Bay Rays are in a great spot at second base with Brandon Lowe making the All-Star team in his rookie campaign. On the farm, the Rays boast top prospects like Vidal Brujan and Xavier Edwards.

Not every team in the AL East has had such recent prosperity at second base. So, come along as we preview the keystone for each team in the AL East in 2020. On Deck: Toronto Blue Jays.

Other AL East 2B Team Previews:

• • Baltimore Orioles
  • Boston Red Sox
  • New York Yankees

Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays Fangraphs 2020 Projected WAR: 2.2

Cavan Biggio

Cavan Biggio made his debut in late-May of last season and appeared in 100 games for the Blue Jays. Of his 100 games, he spent 85 at the keystone. Cavan, the son of Hall of Fame second basemen Craig Biggio, blasted 35 extra-base hits in 354 at-bats and stole 14 bases without getting caught once.

While he did strike out 123 times in just 430 plate appearances, he walked71 times and slashed .234/.364/.429. Biggio is one of the key pieces of Toronto’s youth movement and will have every opportunity at second base this season.

The power was a continuation of his 2018 season in AA-New Hampshire where he blasted 26 homers, drove in 99 runs, and slashed .252/.388/.499 while drawing 100 walks.

Biggio has a propensity for the swing-and-miss but he brings a power/speed combo with what appears to be an elite-eye at the plate.

Brandon Drury

The Blue Jays have veterans Brandon Drury and recently signed Joe Panik listed behind the young star as depth. Drury is still only 27 and managed to hit 15 homers for the Blue Jays last season while slashing .218/.262/.419.

Joe Panik

Panik is a former first-round draft pick who owns a Gold Glove and a World Series ring. He impressed enough in spring training that the Giants selected his contract after the suspension of the spring was announced.

Panik is entering his age-29 season and owns a career .271 batting average and has struck out in just 253 of his 2,701 career plate appearances.