From BP's MLU: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news ... f-8-1-8-3/
Brody Hopkins, RHP, Rays (Double-A Montgomery): 7 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 10 K, 2 BB.
Despite falling just outside our midseason top 50(-60), our preseason no. 57 prospect has been effective in Double-A. Hopkins has still been highly inefficient, shortening some of his outing significantly, but this is his second seven-inning showcase on the season.
And From BA's Hot Sheet: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... et-8-4-25/
9. Brody Hopkins, RHP, Rays
Team: Double-A Montgomery (Southern)
Age: 23
Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR
The Scoop: The Rays’ No. 5 prospect has been excellent this season with Double-A Montgomery and might have pitched his best game of the season on Friday. Hopkins spun seven scoreless innings, striking out 10 while allowing three hits and two walks. Over the course of the outing, Hopkins generated 17 swinging strikes as his mid-90s fastball and trio of secondaries ate all night long. Hopkins is a prospect with a green up arrow as we head into the closing weeks of the 2025 season. There’s an outside chance he debuts with the Rays in the first half of 2026.
Down on the Farm - 2025
Moderator: Braves
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BA's Statcast Standouts: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... uts-aug-4/
Owen Caissie, OF, Cubs
It’s important to see growth from young players. Let’s take a look at how Caissie has progressed from last season:
So far this season:
The top-line improvement is the most obvious. Caissie is now showing at least plus-plus power, increasing his 90th percentile exit velocity from a 65 to a 70 grade, while improving his launch angles and increasing his average exit velocities substantially, especially on fly balls.
There’s another key improvement that Caissie has made: He’s chasing breaking balls and off-speed pitches a lot less, with perhaps some regression against sliders. He’s both increased his in-zone aggression from 70.2% to 71.3% and reduced his chase from 30.9% to 28.3%, which is a massive overall improvement.
He’s not quite as dynamic against lefties, but he can more than hold his own, with a very patient, contact-oriented approach. This suggests he’s not a huge risk of being a platoon-only bat. The Cubs notably did not trade Caissie at the deadline, as he’s likely their insurance policy if Kyle Tucker leaves in free agency.
Owen Caissie, OF, Cubs
It’s important to see growth from young players. Let’s take a look at how Caissie has progressed from last season:
So far this season:
The top-line improvement is the most obvious. Caissie is now showing at least plus-plus power, increasing his 90th percentile exit velocity from a 65 to a 70 grade, while improving his launch angles and increasing his average exit velocities substantially, especially on fly balls.
There’s another key improvement that Caissie has made: He’s chasing breaking balls and off-speed pitches a lot less, with perhaps some regression against sliders. He’s both increased his in-zone aggression from 70.2% to 71.3% and reduced his chase from 30.9% to 28.3%, which is a massive overall improvement.
He’s not quite as dynamic against lefties, but he can more than hold his own, with a very patient, contact-oriented approach. This suggests he’s not a huge risk of being a platoon-only bat. The Cubs notably did not trade Caissie at the deadline, as he’s likely their insurance policy if Kyle Tucker leaves in free agency.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BP's Heat Check: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/pros ... -the-hill/
Tai Peete, OF, Seattle Mariners (High-A Everett): .308 (12-39), 6 R, 6 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 2 BB, 9 K, 2 SB.
Season Stats (High-A): .227/.286/.419, 16 HR, 19 SB.
The 30th-overall selection in 2023, Peete might finally be turning the corner after several months of lackluster production in High-A. The strikeout rate, which spiked to over 30% last season, has slowly begun to creep back into a more manageable number during the second half of this season. He’s also been able to tap into more pop this year at the plate, getting the ball in the air with more consistency and slugging a career high 16 home runs through his first 96 games. Peete can often get overlooked by the strong play of 2023 draft mates, Colt Emerson and Johnny Farmelo, but his youth and high upside profile will give him plenty of runway to develop in the lower minors.
Tai Peete, OF, Seattle Mariners (High-A Everett): .308 (12-39), 6 R, 6 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 2 BB, 9 K, 2 SB.
Season Stats (High-A): .227/.286/.419, 16 HR, 19 SB.
The 30th-overall selection in 2023, Peete might finally be turning the corner after several months of lackluster production in High-A. The strikeout rate, which spiked to over 30% last season, has slowly begun to creep back into a more manageable number during the second half of this season. He’s also been able to tap into more pop this year at the plate, getting the ball in the air with more consistency and slugging a career high 16 home runs through his first 96 games. Peete can often get overlooked by the strong play of 2023 draft mates, Colt Emerson and Johnny Farmelo, but his youth and high upside profile will give him plenty of runway to develop in the lower minors.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BA: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... s-in-2025/
RISER: Nolan McLean, RHP, Mets
Two years ago, Nolan McLean was best known as an outfielder and reliever for Oklahoma State. Today, the 24-year-old righthander is one of the most prominent starter prospects in the game.
The Mets drafted McLean as a two-way player in the third round in 2023. He didn’t fully commit to the mound until the second half of 2024.
This season in his first full year as a pitcher, McLean led all minor league pitchers with 38 strikeouts in July for Triple-A Syracuse. His ability to navigate the hazards of the International League, with its livelier ball, ABS challenge system and mature hitters, was notable.
Even more notable is how McLean has adapted his pitch mix. His high-spin sweeper has a rare combination of velocity and movement, averaging 86 mph with 15 inches of sweep.
McLean added a mid-90s two-seam fastball last season and now it’s a go-to pitch against righthanded batters. He also began developing a high-70s curveball while fine-tuning a high-80s cutter. Now, both have become essential to his attack plan versus opposite-hand batters.
RISER: Nolan McLean, RHP, Mets
Two years ago, Nolan McLean was best known as an outfielder and reliever for Oklahoma State. Today, the 24-year-old righthander is one of the most prominent starter prospects in the game.
The Mets drafted McLean as a two-way player in the third round in 2023. He didn’t fully commit to the mound until the second half of 2024.
This season in his first full year as a pitcher, McLean led all minor league pitchers with 38 strikeouts in July for Triple-A Syracuse. His ability to navigate the hazards of the International League, with its livelier ball, ABS challenge system and mature hitters, was notable.
Even more notable is how McLean has adapted his pitch mix. His high-spin sweeper has a rare combination of velocity and movement, averaging 86 mph with 15 inches of sweep.
McLean added a mid-90s two-seam fastball last season and now it’s a go-to pitch against righthanded batters. He also began developing a high-70s curveball while fine-tuning a high-80s cutter. Now, both have become essential to his attack plan versus opposite-hand batters.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From MLB Pipeline: https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/top-prosp ... e-coverage
Owen Caissie, OF, Iowa (CHC No. 1/MLB No. 45)
Caissie continued his sizzling summer with another three-hit performance, punctuated by his 22nd long ball which equaled a career high set in 2023. The 22-year-old has been one of the Minors' best hitters since June, slashing .343/.438/.680 in 49 games with 30 extra-base hits -- including 15 homers -- and 32 RBIs. Caissie's 22 roundtrippers are tied for third in the Triple-A International League.
Jeferson Quero, C, Nashville (MIL No. 4/MLB No. 65)
Quero hit his first homer since July 12 and and equaled a career high with five RBIs to account for all of Triple-A Nashville's runs. The 22-year-old has hit safely in three of four games since returning from his second IL stint of the season. Quero, who also missed the first five weeks of the season with a strained hamstring, has 10 extra-base hits and 25 RBIs in 34 games for the Sounds.
Owen Caissie, OF, Iowa (CHC No. 1/MLB No. 45)
Caissie continued his sizzling summer with another three-hit performance, punctuated by his 22nd long ball which equaled a career high set in 2023. The 22-year-old has been one of the Minors' best hitters since June, slashing .343/.438/.680 in 49 games with 30 extra-base hits -- including 15 homers -- and 32 RBIs. Caissie's 22 roundtrippers are tied for third in the Triple-A International League.
Jeferson Quero, C, Nashville (MIL No. 4/MLB No. 65)
Quero hit his first homer since July 12 and and equaled a career high with five RBIs to account for all of Triple-A Nashville's runs. The 22-year-old has hit safely in three of four games since returning from his second IL stint of the season. Quero, who also missed the first five weeks of the season with a strained hamstring, has 10 extra-base hits and 25 RBIs in 34 games for the Sounds.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BA: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... er-3-hits/
Since June 1, few hitters on the planet have been as hot as the Cubs’ Owen Caissie. Since the start of June, Caissie has hit .343/.438/.680 with 15 home runs over 48 games. On Tuesday, Caissie went 3-for-5 with a homer and two singles. Caissie has shown improvements to his hit tool in his second run through Triple-A and has cut his strikeout rate to 23.3% this year. Though he continues to be blocked from MLB at-bats by the Cubs’ crowded outfield, his continued high-level production has him knocking on the door of the big leagues louder than ever.
Since June 1, few hitters on the planet have been as hot as the Cubs’ Owen Caissie. Since the start of June, Caissie has hit .343/.438/.680 with 15 home runs over 48 games. On Tuesday, Caissie went 3-for-5 with a homer and two singles. Caissie has shown improvements to his hit tool in his second run through Triple-A and has cut his strikeout rate to 23.3% this year. Though he continues to be blocked from MLB at-bats by the Cubs’ crowded outfield, his continued high-level production has him knocking on the door of the big leagues louder than ever.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From MLB Pipeline: https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/nolan-mclean-mets-callup
NEW YORK -- The Mets are about to promote one of the most promising pitching prospects they've developed in years.
No. 3 Mets prospect Nolan McLean, ranked 37th in baseball, will make his Major League debut Saturday in a start at Citi Field against the Mariners, according to multiple sources. McLean will replace struggling veteran Frankie Montas in the rotation, with a chance to stick there if he pitches well.
The club has not publicly confirmed the news, which team officials broke to McLean on Wednesday morning.
The Mets' third-round Draft pick in 2023, McLean began his professional career as a two-way player before becoming exclusively a pitcher early last season. When he did, McLean leveled up, developing into one of the most successful pitching prospects the Mets have employed in a decade.
Following an early-season promotion to Triple-A Syracuse this year, the 24-year-old McLean produced a 2.78 ERA over 16 appearances. He is in line to pitch Saturday on five days' rest.
The Mets chose McLean for the start over Brandon Sproat, another top prospect who has been a tick less consistent at Syracuse. McLean is known for a six-pitch mix that revolves around one of the most effective sweepers in Minor League Baseball.
NEW YORK -- The Mets are about to promote one of the most promising pitching prospects they've developed in years.
No. 3 Mets prospect Nolan McLean, ranked 37th in baseball, will make his Major League debut Saturday in a start at Citi Field against the Mariners, according to multiple sources. McLean will replace struggling veteran Frankie Montas in the rotation, with a chance to stick there if he pitches well.
The club has not publicly confirmed the news, which team officials broke to McLean on Wednesday morning.
The Mets' third-round Draft pick in 2023, McLean began his professional career as a two-way player before becoming exclusively a pitcher early last season. When he did, McLean leveled up, developing into one of the most successful pitching prospects the Mets have employed in a decade.
Following an early-season promotion to Triple-A Syracuse this year, the 24-year-old McLean produced a 2.78 ERA over 16 appearances. He is in line to pitch Saturday on five days' rest.
The Mets chose McLean for the start over Brandon Sproat, another top prospect who has been a tick less consistent at Syracuse. McLean is known for a six-pitch mix that revolves around one of the most effective sweepers in Minor League Baseball.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From MLB Pipeline: https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/biggest-b ... e-coverage
Nolan McLean, RHP, Mets (No. 37)
The Mets have had a recent trend of top pitching prospects struggling in their first taste of Triple-A, but not McLean. After an uneven first full season in '24, the '23 second-rounder reached the Minors' highest level after only five starts and emerged as one of the best pitchers in the International League, posting a 2.78 ERA with more than a strikeout per inning across 16 appearances (13 starts). McLean's best weapon is his 70-grade sweeper, which he can spin at upward of 3,000 rpm. And it's hurtled him to The Show, he's expected to make his MLB debut on Saturday against the Mariners.
Nolan McLean, RHP, Mets (No. 37)
The Mets have had a recent trend of top pitching prospects struggling in their first taste of Triple-A, but not McLean. After an uneven first full season in '24, the '23 second-rounder reached the Minors' highest level after only five starts and emerged as one of the best pitchers in the International League, posting a 2.78 ERA with more than a strikeout per inning across 16 appearances (13 starts). McLean's best weapon is his 70-grade sweeper, which he can spin at upward of 3,000 rpm. And it's hurtled him to The Show, he's expected to make his MLB debut on Saturday against the Mariners.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BA: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... -saturday/
Righthander Nolan McLean, the 40th-ranked prospect in baseball and the Mets’ top pitching prospect, is scheduled to make his MLB debut on Saturday. SNY’s Andy Martino was first to report the news.
McLean began the season at Double-A Binghamton, but he quickly earned a promotion by going 3-1, 1.37 in five starts. He’s 5-4, 2.81 in 83.1 innings at Triple-A Syracuse with a 10.2% walk rate and 26.3% strikeout rate.
A big (6-foot-4) righty, McLean has blossomed after switching to a full-time focus on pitching. He was a two-way player at Oklahoma State and hit early in his pro career. His sweeper is a weapon, and it pairs well with his mid-90s fastball.
The Mets could use a boost from McLean. They have moved Frankie Montas to the bullpen, and the rotation has lacked stability behind Kodai Senga and David Peterson.
And from MLB Pipeline: https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/what-to-e ... e-coverage
This Saturday, a new delectable item comes to Citi Field: Nolan McLean sliders.
The Mets are calling up MLB Pipeline’s No. 37 overall prospect to make his Major League debut with a home start this weekend against the Mariners, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reported Wednesday.
Ranked as the top pitching prospect in New York’s system, the 24-year-old right-hander owns a 2.45 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 127 strikeouts in 113 2/3 innings with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse this season. Since joining the Minors’ top level in early May, he has a 2.78 ERA in 16 appearances (13 starts) in the International League, and his 27.0 percent strikeout rate ranks seventh among 51 pitchers with at least 80 Triple-A innings in 2025.
Since July 1, McLean leads the Minor Leagues with 52 strikeouts, fanning at least six in each of his seven outings (six starts) in that spell.
Taken in the third round of the 2023 Draft as a two-way player out of Oklahoma State, the 6-foot-2 hurler has flourished in his first full season fully focusing on pitching.
McLean’s trademark pitch is a monster 84-87 mph sweeper that averages 15.4 inches of gloveside movement and 2,872 rpm. It was his most-thrown pitch in Triple-A – it helps that he throws his mid-90s sinker and four-seamer almost equally, splitting his fastball usage – while opponents batted just .187 against it with a 30.1 percent whiff rate. Only Will Warren, Dustin May and Taylor Rogers have thrown sweepers with that much sweep and that high a spin rate in the Majors (min. 300 sweepers thrown).
Throwing from a lower three-quarters arm slot, McLean tends to lean on the sweeper-sinker combo against righties with the latter pitch breaking around 16 inches armside, essentially mirroring the break of the sweeper and giving same-side hitters a wide horizontal zone on which to focus. Such an approach leads to a ton of groundballs; McLean’s 54.7 percent groundball rate is seventh-best among full-season Minor League qualifiers this year.
He’ll still use the sinker and sweeper against lefties too, but he’s more likely to fold in that four-seamer (which touched 97.7 mph with Syracuse) to incorporate more ride up in the zone, though the movement profile isn’t great. He also mixes in an 88-90 mph cutter that actually gets a tiny bit of armside movement and a 78-80 mph curveball that regularly exceeds 3,200 rpm and gets 18-19 inches of sweep and 57 inches of drop. He’s only gone to the deuce around one-eighth of the time against lefties, but those hitters missed on 42.9 percent of their swings against the curve in Triple-A.
McLean has an 85-88 mph changeup but treats it like a fifth pitch since it’s the offering he most often throws for a ball (around 49 percent of the time, per Synergy Sports).
As might be expected, the former Cowboy can run into pretty severe splits issues; righties have hit .153/.244/.211 against him over 235 plate appearances in 2025 while lefties have produced a more robust .232/.341/.364 line in 232 PA. His 10.6 percent walk rate with Syracuse was also a smidge below Triple-A average (10.9), but that control will be tested against more patient Major League hitters.
McLean could run into trouble against lefty-heavy lineups in The Show -- a reason why Seattle could make for an interesting first opponent with switch-hitters Cal Raleigh and Jorge Polanco flipping to that side -- but the Mets’ newest starter could still provide a unique look for even veteran MLB bats given his incredible feel for spin.
Righthander Nolan McLean, the 40th-ranked prospect in baseball and the Mets’ top pitching prospect, is scheduled to make his MLB debut on Saturday. SNY’s Andy Martino was first to report the news.
McLean began the season at Double-A Binghamton, but he quickly earned a promotion by going 3-1, 1.37 in five starts. He’s 5-4, 2.81 in 83.1 innings at Triple-A Syracuse with a 10.2% walk rate and 26.3% strikeout rate.
A big (6-foot-4) righty, McLean has blossomed after switching to a full-time focus on pitching. He was a two-way player at Oklahoma State and hit early in his pro career. His sweeper is a weapon, and it pairs well with his mid-90s fastball.
The Mets could use a boost from McLean. They have moved Frankie Montas to the bullpen, and the rotation has lacked stability behind Kodai Senga and David Peterson.
And from MLB Pipeline: https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/what-to-e ... e-coverage
This Saturday, a new delectable item comes to Citi Field: Nolan McLean sliders.
The Mets are calling up MLB Pipeline’s No. 37 overall prospect to make his Major League debut with a home start this weekend against the Mariners, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reported Wednesday.
Ranked as the top pitching prospect in New York’s system, the 24-year-old right-hander owns a 2.45 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 127 strikeouts in 113 2/3 innings with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse this season. Since joining the Minors’ top level in early May, he has a 2.78 ERA in 16 appearances (13 starts) in the International League, and his 27.0 percent strikeout rate ranks seventh among 51 pitchers with at least 80 Triple-A innings in 2025.
Since July 1, McLean leads the Minor Leagues with 52 strikeouts, fanning at least six in each of his seven outings (six starts) in that spell.
Taken in the third round of the 2023 Draft as a two-way player out of Oklahoma State, the 6-foot-2 hurler has flourished in his first full season fully focusing on pitching.
McLean’s trademark pitch is a monster 84-87 mph sweeper that averages 15.4 inches of gloveside movement and 2,872 rpm. It was his most-thrown pitch in Triple-A – it helps that he throws his mid-90s sinker and four-seamer almost equally, splitting his fastball usage – while opponents batted just .187 against it with a 30.1 percent whiff rate. Only Will Warren, Dustin May and Taylor Rogers have thrown sweepers with that much sweep and that high a spin rate in the Majors (min. 300 sweepers thrown).
Throwing from a lower three-quarters arm slot, McLean tends to lean on the sweeper-sinker combo against righties with the latter pitch breaking around 16 inches armside, essentially mirroring the break of the sweeper and giving same-side hitters a wide horizontal zone on which to focus. Such an approach leads to a ton of groundballs; McLean’s 54.7 percent groundball rate is seventh-best among full-season Minor League qualifiers this year.
He’ll still use the sinker and sweeper against lefties too, but he’s more likely to fold in that four-seamer (which touched 97.7 mph with Syracuse) to incorporate more ride up in the zone, though the movement profile isn’t great. He also mixes in an 88-90 mph cutter that actually gets a tiny bit of armside movement and a 78-80 mph curveball that regularly exceeds 3,200 rpm and gets 18-19 inches of sweep and 57 inches of drop. He’s only gone to the deuce around one-eighth of the time against lefties, but those hitters missed on 42.9 percent of their swings against the curve in Triple-A.
McLean has an 85-88 mph changeup but treats it like a fifth pitch since it’s the offering he most often throws for a ball (around 49 percent of the time, per Synergy Sports).
As might be expected, the former Cowboy can run into pretty severe splits issues; righties have hit .153/.244/.211 against him over 235 plate appearances in 2025 while lefties have produced a more robust .232/.341/.364 line in 232 PA. His 10.6 percent walk rate with Syracuse was also a smidge below Triple-A average (10.9), but that control will be tested against more patient Major League hitters.
McLean could run into trouble against lefty-heavy lineups in The Show -- a reason why Seattle could make for an interesting first opponent with switch-hitters Cal Raleigh and Jorge Polanco flipping to that side -- but the Mets’ newest starter could still provide a unique look for even veteran MLB bats given his incredible feel for spin.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
From BA: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories ... -thursday/
After two long years in Triple-A, Owen Caissie is reportedly being called up by the Cubs to the major leagues on Thursday. Caissie has hit .289/.389/.566 with 22 home runs over 93 games for Triple-A Iowa this season. A Top 100 Prospect, Caissie has been one of the most impressive hitters in the minors since June, as he’s in the midst of a serious hot streak. The 23-year-old brings easy plus power, on-base skills and the ability to play an average corner outfield. There are still questions around his bat-to-ball ability, but he’s consistently shown enough contact to get to his power so far throughout his professional career. A native Canadian, Caissie will debut in his home country, as the Cubs wrap up a three-game road series against the Blue Jays.
And from MLB Pipeline: https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/owen-cais ... e-coverage
TORONTO -- The Cubs are calling up Canadian outfield prospect Owen Caissie from Triple-A Iowa, per reports from ESPN.
Caissie, ranked by MLB Pipeline as Chicago's top prospect and the No. 45 prospect in baseball, will make his big league debut at Rogers Centre for the finale of the Cubs series against the Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon. Caissie is from nearby Burlington, Ontario, located about 30 miles southwest of Toronto.
Caissie’s been tearing up Triple-A pitching this season. Through 93 games, he’s hitting .289 with 22 home runs and a .955 OPS. In 499 career Minor League games, he has hit 81 home runs with an .873 OPS.
The left-handed hitter was selected in the second round (45th overall) in the 2020 Draft by the Padres. He was dealt to Chicago on Dec. 29 of that year, along with right-hander Zach Davies, shortstop Reginald Preciado, shortstop Yeison Santana and outfielder Ismael Mena in a deal that sent right-hander Yu Darvish to San Diego.
After two long years in Triple-A, Owen Caissie is reportedly being called up by the Cubs to the major leagues on Thursday. Caissie has hit .289/.389/.566 with 22 home runs over 93 games for Triple-A Iowa this season. A Top 100 Prospect, Caissie has been one of the most impressive hitters in the minors since June, as he’s in the midst of a serious hot streak. The 23-year-old brings easy plus power, on-base skills and the ability to play an average corner outfield. There are still questions around his bat-to-ball ability, but he’s consistently shown enough contact to get to his power so far throughout his professional career. A native Canadian, Caissie will debut in his home country, as the Cubs wrap up a three-game road series against the Blue Jays.
And from MLB Pipeline: https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/owen-cais ... e-coverage
TORONTO -- The Cubs are calling up Canadian outfield prospect Owen Caissie from Triple-A Iowa, per reports from ESPN.
Caissie, ranked by MLB Pipeline as Chicago's top prospect and the No. 45 prospect in baseball, will make his big league debut at Rogers Centre for the finale of the Cubs series against the Blue Jays on Thursday afternoon. Caissie is from nearby Burlington, Ontario, located about 30 miles southwest of Toronto.
Caissie’s been tearing up Triple-A pitching this season. Through 93 games, he’s hitting .289 with 22 home runs and a .955 OPS. In 499 career Minor League games, he has hit 81 home runs with an .873 OPS.
The left-handed hitter was selected in the second round (45th overall) in the 2020 Draft by the Padres. He was dealt to Chicago on Dec. 29 of that year, along with right-hander Zach Davies, shortstop Reginald Preciado, shortstop Yeison Santana and outfielder Ismael Mena in a deal that sent right-hander Yu Darvish to San Diego.
Re: Down on the Farm - 2025
One more for Caissie: https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/what-to-e ... e-coverage
Five years later, the Yu Darvish trade finally will pay some dividends for the Cubs.
In December 2020, Chicago was coming off its fifth playoff berth in six seasons but looking to reduce payroll after the pandemic season. It nontendered Kyle Schwarber on Dec. 2, then made a bigger cost-cutting move four days after Christmas. The Cubs shipped Darvish and Victor Caratini to the Padres for Zach Davies and four prospects who had yet to reach full-season ball: infielders Reginald Preciado and Yeison Santana and outfielders Owen Caissie and Ismael Mena.
Davis posted a 5.78 ERA and led the National League in walks during his lone season in Chicago. Mena and Preciado have yet to reach Double-A, while Santana was released two years ago. The Cubs haven't been back to the postseason since 2020.
But the saving grace of the Darvish deal is expected to join the team for its game against the Blue Jays this afternoon. Caissie, ranked No. 45 on MLB Pipeline's recently revised Top 100 Prospects list, is from Burlington, Ont., and could make his big league debut against likely future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer about 35 miles from where he grew up.
One of the best power-hitting prospects in baseball, Caissie is expected to replace Miguel Amaya, who sprained his left ankle and was carted off the field in a 4-1 win over Toronto last night. The Cubs' offense could use a jolt after scoring just 33 runs in their last 10 games, during which they've gone 4-6 and fallen 7 1/2 games behind the Brewers in the NL Central. Chicago does maintain a comfortable 5 1/2-game lead in the NL Wild Card race.
Caissie has been on a tear at Triple-A Iowa, slashing .383/.457/.617 with three home runs in his last 17 games. He's batting .289/.389/.566 overall with 22 homers in 93 contests, ranking third in the International League in homers, extra-base hits (50) and total bases (196) and fifth in slugging and OPS (.955) despite being one of the youngest players in the circuit (he turned 23 last month).
The Cubs have pushed Caissie aggressively since acquiring him, sending him to High-A at age 19 in 2022, and he repeatedly has responded to the challenge of facing significantly older competition. He was part of championship clubs at High-A South Bend and Double-A Tennessee in 2022 and 2023 before being one of the most productive hitters in prospect-laden lineups at Iowa the last two seasons.
With the bat speed and loft in his left-handed stroke and the strength and leverage in his 6-foot-3 frame, Caissie hits balls exceptionally hard for his age. His average exit velocity of 91.3 mph in Triple-A is on par with those of Freddie Freeman and Bryce Harper (91.4 mph) in the Majors, while his max exit velo of 113.3 mph and average 12.4 degree launch angle are comparable to Harper's as well.
Caissie offers at least 30-homer upside, and his power plays from left-center to the right-field line and against both southpaws and right-handers. His aggressive mindset at the plate and naturally long swing have led to a 29 percent strikeout rate in the Minors, but he's also a career .280 hitter with a 14 percent walk rate. He has displayed better plate discipline in the last two months, maintaining a 20 percent K rate while drawing walks 13 percent of the time.
While he's known most for his slugging, Caissie's athleticism is a bit underrated. He can flash plus speed once he gets going and swipe an occasional base, though he's more of an average runner. He has improved his reads and routes in the outfield to the point where he's an average defender on the corners, and his plus arm strength fits nicely in right field.
It's unclear exactly where Caissie fits into a Cubs lineup that still stands third in MLB in scoring at 5.08 runs per game. Pete Crow-Armstrong may be slumping, but he's an MVP candidate providing Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field. Chicago has veterans Ian Happ and Kyle Tucker manning the outfield corners and Seiya Suzuki at DH.
There was thought that the Cubs might move Caissie at the Trade Deadline in search of starting pitching, but he's also a very nice insurance policy if Tucker departs as a free agent after this year. They've never filled the lefty-slugger void left when they bid goodbye to Schwarber, and Caissie could do just that.
Five years later, the Yu Darvish trade finally will pay some dividends for the Cubs.
In December 2020, Chicago was coming off its fifth playoff berth in six seasons but looking to reduce payroll after the pandemic season. It nontendered Kyle Schwarber on Dec. 2, then made a bigger cost-cutting move four days after Christmas. The Cubs shipped Darvish and Victor Caratini to the Padres for Zach Davies and four prospects who had yet to reach full-season ball: infielders Reginald Preciado and Yeison Santana and outfielders Owen Caissie and Ismael Mena.
Davis posted a 5.78 ERA and led the National League in walks during his lone season in Chicago. Mena and Preciado have yet to reach Double-A, while Santana was released two years ago. The Cubs haven't been back to the postseason since 2020.
But the saving grace of the Darvish deal is expected to join the team for its game against the Blue Jays this afternoon. Caissie, ranked No. 45 on MLB Pipeline's recently revised Top 100 Prospects list, is from Burlington, Ont., and could make his big league debut against likely future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer about 35 miles from where he grew up.
One of the best power-hitting prospects in baseball, Caissie is expected to replace Miguel Amaya, who sprained his left ankle and was carted off the field in a 4-1 win over Toronto last night. The Cubs' offense could use a jolt after scoring just 33 runs in their last 10 games, during which they've gone 4-6 and fallen 7 1/2 games behind the Brewers in the NL Central. Chicago does maintain a comfortable 5 1/2-game lead in the NL Wild Card race.
Caissie has been on a tear at Triple-A Iowa, slashing .383/.457/.617 with three home runs in his last 17 games. He's batting .289/.389/.566 overall with 22 homers in 93 contests, ranking third in the International League in homers, extra-base hits (50) and total bases (196) and fifth in slugging and OPS (.955) despite being one of the youngest players in the circuit (he turned 23 last month).
The Cubs have pushed Caissie aggressively since acquiring him, sending him to High-A at age 19 in 2022, and he repeatedly has responded to the challenge of facing significantly older competition. He was part of championship clubs at High-A South Bend and Double-A Tennessee in 2022 and 2023 before being one of the most productive hitters in prospect-laden lineups at Iowa the last two seasons.
With the bat speed and loft in his left-handed stroke and the strength and leverage in his 6-foot-3 frame, Caissie hits balls exceptionally hard for his age. His average exit velocity of 91.3 mph in Triple-A is on par with those of Freddie Freeman and Bryce Harper (91.4 mph) in the Majors, while his max exit velo of 113.3 mph and average 12.4 degree launch angle are comparable to Harper's as well.
Caissie offers at least 30-homer upside, and his power plays from left-center to the right-field line and against both southpaws and right-handers. His aggressive mindset at the plate and naturally long swing have led to a 29 percent strikeout rate in the Minors, but he's also a career .280 hitter with a 14 percent walk rate. He has displayed better plate discipline in the last two months, maintaining a 20 percent K rate while drawing walks 13 percent of the time.
While he's known most for his slugging, Caissie's athleticism is a bit underrated. He can flash plus speed once he gets going and swipe an occasional base, though he's more of an average runner. He has improved his reads and routes in the outfield to the point where he's an average defender on the corners, and his plus arm strength fits nicely in right field.
It's unclear exactly where Caissie fits into a Cubs lineup that still stands third in MLB in scoring at 5.08 runs per game. Pete Crow-Armstrong may be slumping, but he's an MVP candidate providing Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field. Chicago has veterans Ian Happ and Kyle Tucker manning the outfield corners and Seiya Suzuki at DH.
There was thought that the Cubs might move Caissie at the Trade Deadline in search of starting pitching, but he's also a very nice insurance policy if Tucker departs as a free agent after this year. They've never filled the lefty-slugger void left when they bid goodbye to Schwarber, and Caissie could do just that.
