Cubs Prospect Who Made Major Leap

The Chicago Cubs have been able to build one of the best pipelines in Major League Baseball after becoming sellers at the deadlines the past couple seasons.

They've been able to develop their prospects and turn them into impact players for the Cubs when they get to the MLB.

One player who made a huge leap during their 2023 minor league season was outfielder Owen Caissie.

The 21-year-old spent the entire year at the Double-A level after earning a promotion from Chicago's High Single-A affiliate after the 2022 season.

MLB.com writes, "The highest-drafted Canadian outfielder ever, Caissie is the best part of the trade that sent Yu Darvish to the Padres. He turned just 21 in July of this year and might have the most power of any player in the Top 100, registering elite-level exit velocities and banging out 22 homers in Double-A this season, a big reason why he’s jumped up from No. 13 on the Cubs’ preseason Top 30 to No. 3."

That is quite a leap to make for the potential star hitter.

He doesn't just have pop though. He has a slash line this year of .289/.398/.519, driving in 84 RBI in his first season at the higher level of the minor leagues.

The Cubs have elite level talent at the outfield position in their pipeline. Three out of their top five prospects are outfielders, including Pete Crow-Armstrong who was called up the Major League roster in September.

Caissie is expected to make his MLB debut at some point during the 2024 season and has a case to be on the Triple-A squad to start out next year.