P.J. Higgins: From MLB Debut To Minor League Comeback Story
Discover how P.J. Higgins rose through the Cubs system, battled injury, and made a strong return across MLB and Triple-A teams, now bringing depth to the Reds' roster.
Jul 27, 20254.5K Shares166.7K Views
Patrick James “P.J.” Higgins was born on May 10, 1993, in Wallingford, Connecticut, and he grew up there. He graduated from Lyman Hall High School in 2011, where he played baseball and basketball. After high school he enrolled at Old Dominion University, playing Division I baseball for the Monarchs. Over three seasons at Old Dominion, he batted around .324 and earned a second-team all‑Conference USA nod as a junior. During his time in school, he played multiple positions, including second base, third base, and catcher. He also spent a year at The Gunnery prep school to develop his skills before college.
Career
P.J. Higginswas picked by the Chicago Cubs in the 12th round of the 2015 MLB Draft out of Old Dominion University. He began his pro career in rookie ball and moved up through the Cubs’ minor league teams, hitting over .280 at Single-A, then improving to a .271 average in Double-A, and delivering career highs in home runs (10) and RBIs (57) at Triple-A in 2019.
Higgins signed to the Cubs’ 40-man roster in May 2021 and made his major league debut on May 19, going hitless in his first game. He recorded his first MLB hit on June 3, but later in June he suffered a right forearm strain that required Tommy John surgery, ending his season. He returned in 2022 and appeared in 74 games for Chicago, batting .229 with six home runs and thirty RBIs. That year he hit his first grand slam and delivered his first walk-off hit, helping the team late in the season.
After being removed from the Cubs roster, he signed a minor league deal with Arizona in January 2023, and hit .305 with Reno in Triple-A before being traded back to Chicago midseason, where he also performed well in Triple-A Iowa. In November 2023 he signed with Cincinnati on a minor league contract and in 2024 played for the Louisville Bats, hitting .259 with eleven homers and 68 RBIs in 134 games. As of January 2025, he had re-signed with the Reds organization and continues to provide depth in catcher and first base roles.
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