By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

The Chicago Cubs have made their first round of roster cuts this spring including one of the top Canadian prospects of 2025.

Owen Caissie was on the unfortunate end of the news this week, as he and two other prospects were optioned to triple-A Iowa. It has been an unfortunate start for the Fieldhouse Pirates alum, as a groin strain has kept him out of game action so far this spring with the Cubs. Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) also underwent core muscle surgery this past offseason.

Last season, Caissie posted a .278/.375/.472 slash line with an impressive .847 OPS in 127 triple-A contests, collecting 19 home runs and 75 RBIs to the tune of a 121 wRC+. There were whispers that he could receive a late-season call-up opportunity, although it never came to fruition.

Defensively, he split time between the corner outfield spots for most of the campaign and produced seven outfield assists. In 2024, he earned the Canadian Baseball Network’s annual Randall Echlin award as the top offensive player in affiliated ball.

Amidst a busy winter for the Cubs, Caissie was added to the Cubs 40-man roster in November to ensure he was protected from the Rule V Draft. The left-handed hitting outfielder was a chance to crack the Cubs Opening Day roster with a solid spring showing this year, although he was in tough company with Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, newly acquired superstar Kyle Tucker and Kevin Alcantara, vying for time in the outfield.

The outfielder was ranked at #2 by MLB Pipeline within the organization to end the 2024 season and was the only Canuck featured on the Top 100 list to start the 2025 cycle (#54).

He will now likely be on the watch list for a midseason call-up if he posts a strong start to the season at triple-A.