Owen Caissie poised for MLB breakthrough as Cubs eye Rookie of the Year honor
The Chicago Cubs are nurturing an exciting talent in their farm system, one that has been on the cusp of breaking through for what feels like an eternity: outfielder Owen Caissie. While Caissie has been waiting for his chance, the Cubs’ outfield has been densely populated with established players like Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Kyle Tucker. However, as 2026 approaches, the landscape is shifting, potentially paving the way for Caissie to make a significant impact.
Changing Dynamics in the Outfield
With speculation swirling around Tucker’s future with the Cubs, the situation appears increasingly tenuous. Reports suggest that any team interested in acquiring Tucker will need to make a substantial financial commitment, which raises questions about whether the Cubs should invest in him given his performance this season. Should Tucker depart, it opens the door for Caissie to step into a more prominent role—something many believe is long overdue.
Although Caissie made a brief appearance in the majors earlier this year, his contribution during the Cubs’ playoff run against the Milwaukee Brewers showcased his potential. The team’s success in that five-game series highlighted his readiness, yet the opportunity for a sustained role remains just out of reach for now.
Rookie of the Year Aspirations
As the possibility of Caissie receiving a more substantial workload in the upcoming season increases, MLB insider Jim Callis has recognized him as a frontrunner for the National League Rookie of the Year award. “I’ve always been a big Owen Caissie fan. I pound the table for him whenever we’re doing rankings. He’s always been very young for his league. He’s always produced,” Callis remarked. He emphasized Caissie’s impressive statistics, noting that the young outfielder repeated Triple-A—a move that he views positively, especially since Caissie was just 22 years old during that time. Over the past two seasons, he has belted 41 home runs at Triple-A, a testament to his burgeoning talent.
A Glimpse into Caissie’s Journey
Caissie’s journey in professional baseball began at the tender age of 18 when he was drafted by the San Diego Padres. However, his time in San Diego was short-lived; he was traded to the Cubs just months later, a move that the organization had been anticipating since before the 2020 draft.
Now, after five seasons developing in the Cubs’ system, Caissie has emerged as arguably their most promising prospect. His trajectory suggests he’s a lock for the Opening Day roster in 2026. With his recent progression to Triple-A and his impressive performances in the minor leagues, the anticipation surrounding Caissie’s eventual MLB debut continues to grow.
The Cubs and their fans are left eager to see how this young talent will transform the outfield landscape and contribute to the team’s future success. As Owen Caissie approaches the next chapter of his career, all eyes will be on him as he aims to solidify his place in the big leagues and potentially contend for Rookie of the Year honors.
