Cubs Prospect Owen Caissie Demolished a HR for Canada

Much of the prospect talk for the Cubs in spring training has been around a few of the pitchers and top outfield prospects Pete Crow-Armstrong, Brennen Davis and Kevin Alcantara. But just like there seems to be some pretty good pitching depth coming up through the system, don’t forget about Owen Caissie when you talk about the outfielders.

Caissie, 20, is getting the chance to play against international competition, representing Canada in this year’s World Baseball Classic. The left-handed hitting outfielder drove in three runs in Canada’s 18-8 win over Great Britain on Sunday. Caissie singled in a run in the first inning, drove in another with a groundout in the fourth inning, but in the third, the left-handed hitter absolutely demolished a ball for a solo home run to dead center field, high off the batter’s eye at Chase Field.

This missile left Caissie’s bat at 108.3mph off a left-handed pitcher nonetheless.

When you look at Caissie’s 2022 numbers, you may not be overly impressed, he posted a .751 OPS in 105 games, but you also have to consider that he was a 19-year-old at the start of the season playing against guys who were on average a couple years older than him.

Caissie had a rough first month with the South Bend Cubs at advanced A-Ball last year. In April, Caissie slashed .122/.173/.163, (6-for-49) striking out 21 times, walking only three times and recording two extra base hits in 13 games. However, from May through the end of the season, Caissie went on to slash .274/.373/.438, with a 129 wRC+, hitting 11 home runs in 92 games, while producing a 12.3 percent walk rate.

That’s an impressive way to bounce back after having a horrible beginning to a season.

Back to Sunday’s World Baseball Classic game between Canada and Great Britain, it was great to see fellow Cubs prospects Pete Crow-Armstrong and James Triantos in attendance, showing support for Caissie and few other Cubs minor leaguers playing in the game.

Jared Young was the designated hitter for Canada. He batted fourth, reaching base three times via walks, recorded one RBI and scored one run. Young, now 27, got his first taste of the big leagues with the Cubs in 2022, going 5-for-19 in six games at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, BJ Murray, went 1-for-2, scoring after hitting a double in the third inning and reached base two more times with walks. Murray, 23, had a good 2022 season, splitting the year at Myrtle Beach and South Bend. Overall, Murray posted an .839 OPS in 95 games, showing off a good eye, walking 62 times to 77 strikeouts. Murray was drafted in 2021, out of Florida Atlantic.

Cubs fans will get to see Caissie, Young and Murray play on Monday, as Canada will face off against the United States, while Great Britain plays against Colombia.