Detroit Tigers Prospect Report: Justice Bigbie

Justice Bigbie Prospect Report

Physical Description and Background: Listed height and weight (6’2, 200) appear accurate. Lean and muscular with broad shoulders and powerful forearms. Primarily a catcher in high school and played quarterback for his football team. Strong four-year career at Western Carolina and MVP performance in the 2019 Northwoods League before being drafted in the 19th round in 2021.

Hit: 50

Bigbie stands out for his pure bat-to-ball skills and inside-out approach. He’s aggressive at the plate and can be beaten by good breaking balls, but he doesn’t expand the zone very often. Makes solid adjustments, fights off borderline pitches until he gets something he can drive, and will take an average amount of walks. Bigbie lets the ball travel and has shown the ability to pull his hands in and shoot it to the opposite field, but he can struggle with inside pitches, particularly premium velocity and breaking balls from left-handers.

Power: 50

There’s plus raw power in Bigbie’s bat, but it plays to average in games because of his approach. Shows an impressive ability to generate backspin and drive the ball with authority to the opposite field, but his home run totals will likely remain average until he can more consistently pull the ball in the air.

Run: 30

Bigbie is a below-average runner who gets from home to first base in the 4.5 second range. He lacks the second gear to leg out hustle doubles or gap triples, but is a heady, instinctual baserunner who doesn’t make unnecessary outs.

Field: 45

He played second base and third base in college, but has been a first baseman or corner outfielder in pro ball, and in 2023 he has been exclusively an outfielder. Lack of top-end speed limits his range, but he shows good reads and reactions in the corners.

Arm: 50

Average arm strength, but makes good, accurate throws. Hits the cutoff man and gives his infielders a chance to make plays.

Overall: Justice Bigbie’s feel for hitting and plus raw power should get him to the big leagues, but his subpar secondary skills mean his ultimate role is largely dependent upon his ability to pull the ball in the air more frequently. If he does, he has the upside of an average regular in a corner outfield spot. A more likely role for him is that of a useful bench bat and possible four-corners utility man.

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