Chicago Cubs: P.J. Higgins is tearing it up in Double-A

A relatively unknown prospect in the Chicago Cubs system, P.J. Higgins is quietly mashing this season for the Tennessee Smokies and hitting his stride.

It is clear to Chicago Cubs fans as well as fans of baseball in general that Willson Contreras is the guy on the North Side behind the plate. Nevertheless, as some catching prospects are catching the eyes of fans, one such player remains almost unknown, and that is not necessarily a bad thing.

The club selected P.J. Higgins in the 12th round of the 2015 MLB Amateur player draft, number 353 overall. Now in his fifth season with the Cubs organization, Higgins seems close to putting it all together, both with the bat and the glove which should give fans new hope for Higgins at the next level.

While the Cubs’ top overall system prospect, Miguel Amaya, is a catcher and a very good one at that, it has become apparent how important the need for more than one backstop has become. This rings particularly true given Contreras’ backup Victor Caratini recently went down with a broken bone in his hand. The injury could cost him the better part of two months.

That injury has prompted a lot of people to glance down to the farm system to see what options may be ready aside from someone like Taylor Davis. You might be surprised at just how much depth the Cubs have behind the dish.