The Cincinnati Reds have been active in free agency recently, though most of their moves have involved minor league signings. They continued that trend by signing P.J. Higgins to a minor league contract, bringing him back to the organization after he spent the 2024 season with Triple-A Louisville.
Higgins has played parts of two seasons in the majors, appearing in 83 games for the Chicago Cubs between 2021 and 2022. The bulk of his big-league experience came in 2022, when he posted a .229/.310/.383 slash line while playing catcher, first base, and third base. He played those same positions for the Louisville Bats in 2024.
The 31-year-old has been a strong hitter at the Triple-A level in the past but struggled at the plate in 2024. Before joining the Reds organization, he had a .313/.394/.490 slash line over 249 games in Triple-A with the Cubs and Diamondbacks. However, last season with Louisville, his numbers dropped to .259/.320/.385, with his strikeout rate reaching a career-high and his power declining significantly.
After losing most of their catchers from Double-A to the majors in free agency, the Reds have worked to rebuild their depth at the position through signings and the trade for Jose Trevino. Adding Higgins provides additional depth at the upper levels, ensuring they have coverage when injuries inevitably arise. While he saw some time behind the plate in 2024, first base was his primary position, as he started just 27 of his 134 games as a catcher.
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