Owen Caissie makes a strong impression on Cubs before being reassigned to minor league camp

(670 The Score) While he was reassigned to minor league camp Friday, 21-year-old outfielder Owen Caissie made a strong impression on the Cubs in his stint with the big league club in spring training.

Caissie was the talk of camp, as he hit .440 (11-of-25) with one homer, seven RBIs and a 1.197 OPS in 12 games in Cactus League action. He drew four walks while striking out seven times.

“I feel really good about the spring I have had so far,” Caissie told reporters after being sent to minor league camp. “I have stuck to my plan and tried to hone in on good pitches that come into the zone. The others I have been trying to let go so they can walk me. It's been great.”

Caissie also caught the attention of MLB scouts on opposing teams with his performance this spring.

“He certainly has a live bat,” a National League scout said. “The way he drives balls to all fields shows a maturity you don't always see this early in a player's development. He is still working on his defensive skills but he has a really good arm. I can tell you the left-handed bat tools will be his ticket to the big leagues in the not-too-distant future.”

A lefty bat, Caissie hit .289 with 22 homers, 84 RBIs and a .918 OPS in 120 games at Double-A Tennessee in 2023.

“For Owen, it's a camp where he can listen and learn,” manager Craig Counsell told reporters Friday. “He probably played more than he thought he would play. That has been a great experience for him. This gives you good feedback in your first big league camp. It's the kind of experience you want for your first big league camp. It's hard to imagine a player playing better over his first 10 days.”

Caissie was one of the players the Cubs acquired when they traded right-hander Yu Darvish to the Padres in December 2020. Where he’ll begin his 2024 season remains unknown.

Caissie is rated as the 47th-best prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline.

“Being in a big league clubhouse and around veteran players for the first time is a big deal,” Counsell told reporters. “(Caissie and Matt Shaw) both had good experiences in the field. There are several players we sent down today who have a chance to be great Chicago Cubs of the future. We will continue to see some of the guys during these spring training games. The rest is about continuing their development.”

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine .