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Notre Dame Baseball: Pair of Irish Selected in the Major League Baseball Draft

By Bobby Norell

November 28, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Torii Hunter Jr. (16) runs the ball against Stanford Cardinal during the first half at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
November 28, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Torii Hunter Jr. (16) runs the ball against Stanford Cardinal during the first half at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Notre Dame’s Cavan Biggio and Torii Hunter Jr. were selected in last week’s MLB first year player draft.

Cavan Biggio, son of Hall of Fame second basemen Craig Biggio, was selected in the fifth round by the Toronto Blue Jays. Biggio is coming off his best season yet for the Irish as he hit .311, four homers and knocked in 28. Biggio was originally drafted in the 29th round out of high school by the Philadelphia Phillies, but elected to come to Notre Dame instead.

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Biggio is left handed hitter that possess potential gap-to-gap power.In three season’s with the Irish Biggio collected 15 homers, 34 doubles and seven triples. He also has a great pitch recognition as he drew 125 walks in his Notre Dame career. Biggio swiped 33 career bags, so he has shown he is an above average runner. Like his hall of fame dad, Biggio profiles best at second base. The general consensus on Biggio is that he has the potential to be a regular MLB player, and at worst a bench player. He does have a year of eligibility left, but I believe he was drafted high enough to not come back.

Hunter was drafted by his dad’s former team, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, in the 23rd round. We’ve all seen what he can do on the football field, but what kind of a ballplayer is Hunter? Well he’s very athletic. He has all the tools to be a very intriguing prospect, but at the moment is very raw. Hunter is much like his dad in that he can run, hit for a little power and go get ’em in the outfield. The Angels are drafting him purely on his potential, not on what he’s done at Notre Dame. In just 23 games over two seasons, Hunter has hit a robust .167.

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Now Irish fans are probably wondering, “what does this mean for his football career?” Well there is a strong possibility that he signs with the Angels, plays a few months of minor league ball and then come back to Notre Dame for his senior year of football. This would be a similar path to what Pat Connaughton took to his career.

With the selections of Biggio and Hunter it marks the 32nd consecutive year that Notre Dame has had someone drafted in the Major League Baseball draft.

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