Caissie Called Up as Cubs Eye Power Lift for Final Stretch
The Chicago Cubs are set to promote top prospect Owen Caissie to the active roster, moving him onto the 40-man and likely taking Miguel Amaya’s spot after Amaya sprained his ankle and landed on the injured list. Caissie, a left-handed outfielder, is expected to make his MLB debut tomorrow against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Caissie’s path to this moment includes a trade rukenum from San Diego to Chicago in the Yu Darvish deal after being selected by the Padres in the 2020 draft. Since joining the Cubs’ system, he has climbed to one of the organization’s brightest young talents. Baseball America ranked him 21st in 2021, 8th in 2022, 13th in 2023, 5th in 2024, and 2nd in 2025 among Cubs prospects, and he has consistently appeared on BA’s overall top 100 list in recent years. While some outlets have diverged on his top-100 status, there’s broad agreement that Caissie’s raw power stands out, with the question centering on translating that power into consistent MLB impact.
Last season at Triple-A, Caissie posted a solid line of .278/.375/.472 with a .195 isolated power and a 115 wRC+. This year he has taken a significant step forward in Iowa, putting together 22 home runs and 50 extra-base hits over 92 games. His .281 ISO and a 145 wRC+ rank among the best in the International League, signaling the power and plate discipline scouts believed could translate to the majors. His strikeout rate remains a point of concern, sitting around 28%, but he has offset that with strong walk rates and continued slugging.
Calibrating expectations, Caissie is still a 23-year-old with to prove that his swing-and-miss tendencies won’t derail him against MLB pitching, especially versus left-handed arms. His call to the majors comes as the Cubs push to maximize a competitive window, with the club aiming to strengthen an offense that has been among the league’s more productive groups this season but has shown some scoring droughts since the trade deadline.
Where Caissie fits in Chicago’s lineup is a topic worth watching. He can handle corner-outfield spots or serve as a designated hitter, a flexibility that could help the Cubs manage rest for veterans while he earns regular at-bats. The roster reality at the moment means every healthy option matters, and Caissie’s promotion fills a need for a left-handed power hitter who can impact games at the margins.
On the roster side, Chicago has had limited healthy depth on the 40-man roster, making Caissie’s promotion a practical move. He joins fellow top prospects Kevin Alcántara and Moisés Ballesteros, along with Ben Cowles, among the 40-man options the Cubs could rely on as they navigate the stretch run and potential postseason push.
What to watch going forward: Caissie’s debut and his effectiveness against MLB pitching, particularly left-handed pitching, will determine how quickly he earns regular playing time. If he can implement the adjustments that made him a standout minor leaguer—while cutting down on swing-and-miss—he could become a meaningful contributor as Chicago looks to sustain its offensive momentum.
Overall, the call-up is a sign of the Cubs’ commitment to developing impact talent from within and leveraging Caissie’s power to help bridge the gap as they chase a postseason spot. If Caissie can adapt quickly and deliver at the plate, Chicago could gain a welcome lift during a critical stretch run.
Summary: Owen Caissie is being promoted to the Cubs’ active roster after Amaya’s injury, with expectations that he could debut soon and provide left-handed power at the heart of Chicago’s lineup. His recent performance in the minors shows substantial upside, though MLB success will hinge on his ability to adjust to big-league pitching and reduce swing-and-miss. The move also reflects the Cubs’ emphasis on developing high-ceiling prospects to support a competitive run in a tight playoff race.