Cubs Prospect Profile: Owen Caissie |
You could argue that the Cubs top three prospects are just as good if not the best in any organization. From immense power to Ace Caliber arms and Gold glove defense, the top three prospects in the Cubs system are ready to take the league by storm and make things happen for this organization long-term. Owen Caissie is one of those guys as the Canadian Crusher checks in at No. 3 on the Cubs top 30 and is creeping toward becoming a top 30 prospect in all of the MLB.
A second-round pick by the Sand Diego Padres in 2020, Caissie never played a game in that organization as he was traded to the Cubs before the 2021 season as part of the Yu Darvish deal. Fans remember that deal quite well, as most fans were furious that the deal was made, especially coming off of the season Darvish had. Well, needless to say, had anyone known the type of player Caissie would become, they would have thought differently back then, as he has Superstar written all over him. The highest-drafted Canadian outfielder ever, Caissie went 45th overall to the Padres in June 2020 and signed for a below-slot $1,200,004. He was traded to the Cubs at 19 and began his professional career later that summer. Caissie hit .302 in 54 games with seven homers and 29 RBIs between the ACL Cubs and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Most of that damage came with Myrtle Beach, although a .233 average with the Pelicans wasn't where he wanted to be. He then got the bump to South Bend for 2022, became a mainstay in the middle of the Cubs lineup, and even belted a crucial homer during the Cubs Midwest Title run. Across 105 games that season, Caissie improved every aspect of his game by hitting .253, with 11 homers and 58 RBIs. The overall lack of plate discipline may have been the only downfall, but at such a young age, that was to be expected. Hoping to continue his upward trajectory, Caissie was by far the best hitter in the Cubs organization this season, and that is taking nothing away from Pete Crow-Armstrong. Caissie played 120 games for the Tennessee Smokies and captured his second title in as many seasons. You saw him take his bumps early on throughout the season but bounce back to hit .289 with a .398 OBP. Along with that came his increase in power as he finished with a career high 22 homers and 84 RBIs. Caissie also showed improved discipline with 79 walks, but the 164 strikeouts was a bit of an issue as that is the next part of his game to work on. There is a lot to like about Caissie as a player, but his best tool, without question, is the raw power he can generate from the left side of the plate. He will be the perfect addition to this lineup for a team that lacks left-handed power, as his soft hands and elite bat speed lead to easy, hard contact every time he hits the ball. He produces astounding exit velocities for his age and is doing a better job pulling and lifting more pitches this summer. Even though the strikeout numbers were still relatively high last season, Caissie has a good eye and does a phenomenal job of working counts and taking walks to increase his OBP. Typically, when you are the type of hitter he is, strikeouts come with power, and Caissie will strike out a fair amount unless the Cubs want him to cut back on his power. That isn't an issue for the Cubs organization, as they want him to do what he does best and be at his best. Speed isn't part of your arsenal when you're a power hitter, but he has shown some above-average speed the past two seasons. However, once he fills out his frame more than he already has, he will lose some of that speed and become an average runner at best on the bases. He's athletic for his size, but his reads and routes in the outfield need work, and he could wind up as a fringy defender in left field. He has spent most of his early pro career in right and has the solid arm strength for the position. Thankfully, there is a Universal DH in baseball. As worse comes to worse, he could be their long-term option at DH. The main concern I have with Caissie at this point is one the fans should have as well, and it falls on his position in the organization. We know this team wants to win and compete now; to do that, some of these pieces will get moved. Caissie will be high on everyone's list, and it will be up to the Cubs to decide how valuable he is to their future.
