The Cubs suffered a gut punch this week when catcher Miguel Amaya went down with a gruesome injury, forcing him onto the injured list. But amid the disappointment, there’s a spark of excitement that could shift the mood in Wrigleyville. The wait is finally over for one of baseball’s brightest young stars is about to step onto the Major League stage.

Reportedly, the Cubs are calling up top prospect Owen Caissie ahead of Thursday’s game against the Blue Jays. For the 21-year-old outfielder from Burlington, Ontario, the moment carries even more weight. He could make his debut in his home country, surrounded by family, friends, and a national spotlight.

Now, it’s a debut that’s been years in the making. One that Chicago was unwilling to sacrifice even at the trade deadline despite pressure to bolster their rotation. Now, fans will see why. Caissie’s rise from Canadian prodigy to one of the most highly touted hitters in the minors has been a journey fueled by talent, patience, and an unshakable belief that his time would come. Let’s dive into experiencing the journey.

Who is Owen Caissie? All to know about him

Caissie grew up in Burlington, Ontario, and went to Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School. Reportedly, he’s coming into this season with 81 homers in the minors and 307 runs, numbers that show just how dangerous his bat can be. And for the unversed, his power first turned heads back in 2020, when he was just 17.

That spring, he stepped up for the Canadian Junior National Team in an exhibition against the Blue Jays at TD Ballpark in Dunedin. It was late in the game, and Caissie was still looking for his first hit of the day. Then came a pitch from veteran minor-leaguer Connor Overton, and Caissie didn’t miss. The lefty slugger crushed it to deep center, clearing the fence and landing in the batter’s eye. A blast that traveled well over 400 feet!

Yes, it came from the bat of a 17-year-old! That kind of raw power is exactly why, at just 22, Caissie is now MLB Pipeline’s top-ranked prospect in the Chicago organization. Now, all eyes are on what he can do in the big leagues.

How has Owen Caissie’s baseball career been? Everything to know

Well, the story for Owen Caissie started when he was taken in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft by the Padres, going 45th overall. But his time with San Diego was short. Later that year, he was part of the package the Padres sent to the Cubs in the trade for pitcher Yu Darvish.

And since then, the now 23-year-old has steadily climbed the Cubs’ system. Notably, in 2023, Caissie broke out at Double-A Tennessee, hitting .289/.398/.519 with 22 HRs and 82 RBI. Numbers that started turning heads among scouts and pushed him into the conversation as one of the organization’s top prospects.

Caissie carried that momentum further into Triple-A Iowa last season. Eventually, he took over the Cubs’ No. 1 prospect spot for stretches over the past two years. In his first year at Iowa in 2024, Caissie put up a .278/.375/.472 slash line with 19 home runs and 75 RBI over 127 games. And this year, he’s taken it up another notch. Through just 93 games, he’s hitting .289/.389/.566 with a career-best .955 OPS, plus 22 homers and 52 RBI.

Who are his parents? All you need to know about his family 

Owen Caissie’s parents, Jason and Michelle, have been behind his baseball journey from the very start. His dad, Jason — who grew up playing both hockey and baseball, was often the one driving him to training sessions and setting up a tee in the family garage so that young Owen could take swings.

As a kid, Caissie loved watching MLB stars like Barry Bonds and Aaron Judge. He studied their stances and swings, looking for the secret to their power, then worked those ideas into his own mechanism. He even started recording his swings so he could break them down and make adjustments.

And by the time he was 10, Caissie was training with coaches from the Fieldhouse Pirates, one of Canada’s top baseball programs. Jimmy Richardson, the club’s director of baseball operations, spotted that big-time bat right away.

The foundation created by his parents, Caissie, is what he is today. Ready to burst into the MLB scene.