Cavan Biggio Earns ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Award

June 15, 2015

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — After a sterling defensive year at second base, University of Notre Dame sophomore Cavan Biggio has earned a prestigious ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove award.

Biggio joins former Irish star and current Arizona Diamondbacks centerfielder A.J. Pollock (CF, 2009, 1.000 FLD%) as the only two players in program history to receive this honor.

“When I came to Notre Dame I wanted to advance my game to  the highest level,” said Biggio. Coach Pavs (volunteer coach Adam Pavkovich) has done a tremendous job working  with our infielders and the work has shown as we had, in my eyes, the  best infield in the country. And it led to many wins because with the  success our pitchers were having as well, pitching and defense were  the biggest parts of our team this year.

“On a personal note I think  having that whole freshman year to really get experience at second  base at the college level and adjust to the speed of the game made  the biggest difference. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t  for Coach Pavs and Lane (Richards), (Kyle) Fiala, and Zak (Kutsulis). I have really enjoyed  playing alongside them and am looking forward to another year in an  Irish uniform.”

The Houston, Texas native is one of just nine players — and the only second baseman — in Division I to receive a gold glove. Worth noting is that his dad, Craig Biggio, won four Gold Gloves (1994-97) in a row at second base playing for the Houston Astros during his Hall of Fame, 20-year career.

After playing respectable defense at second in his first year with the Irish in 2014 (.976 FLD%, 7 errors, 39 DP’s), Biggio really stepped it up a notch in 2015 while starting all 60 games.

It would be difficult to overstate the prestige of the Gold Glove,” said Notre Dame head coach Mik Aoki. “There are 301 second basemen in D1 and only one among them wins this award. Cavan being named the 2015 Gold Glove winner is an enormous honor, it is a testament to his hard work and dedication and it is indicative of the type of development that happens in our program. I couldn’t be happier for Cavan. As a coach, it’s extremely gratifying to see the hard work of your players be validated and rewarded. Cavan’s dedication was rewarded in a HUGE way and it’s well-deserved.”

In addition to several “wow” plays that can’t be measured, he improved his fielding percentage to .986 as he totaled just five errors. He also helped turn 62 double plays, as Notre Dame led Division I with 75 through the NCAA Regionals.

Besides his defensive improvement, Biggio also stepped up his game in other areas in his second year under the Golden Dome, as he led the Irish in homers (9), walks (50), on-base percentage (.406) and stolen bases (14). He also finished second in runs scored (45).

Through two years at Notre Dame, Biggio has started 112 of a possible 113 games and is batting .252 with 103 hits, 22 doubles, five triples, 11 homers, 42 RBI, 71 walks, 12 hit by pitch, nine sac flies, six sac bunts and 74 runs scored. He sports a .412 slugging percentage and a .372 on-base percentage. On the base paths, he has 19 stolen bases. In the field, he has a .982 fielding percentage with just 12 errors.

Biggio is currently in the prestigious Cape Cod League playing with the Harwich Mariners for the second summer in a row.

For more information on Notre Dame baseball, follow the team on Facebook (/NDBaseball), Twitter (@NDBaseball) and Instagram (notredamebaseball).   

–Russell Dorn, Assistant Media Relations Director

–ND–