Here's the Cubs' 2024 Spring Breakout roster

MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs wanted to ensure that Owen Caissie made the most of his first spring in big league camp. The outfield prospect was informed early on that he was not competing for a spot on Chicago’s Opening Day roster, but rather getting the opportunity to learn from the veteran players around him.

That does not mean Caissie could not open some eyes in the process. The budding slugger has been one of the Cubs’ most productive hitters out of the chute in Cactus League play, and Caissie will get to further showcase his skills in the North Siders’ Spring Breakout clash with White Sox prospects later this month.

“He's probably played more than maybe he thought he was going to play,” manager Craig Counsell told reporters on a recent morning. “And that's been great for him. That gives you good feedback. It’s the kind of camp you want for your first Major League camp, where there isn't a lot of that expectation on you. Just go out and do those things like listen, learn, and then prove yourself that you belong on the field with everybody.”

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Caissie is currently ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 3 prospect for the Cubs and the No. 47 prospect in all of baseball. He is one of six Top 100 prospects from the North Siders who are slated to take part in the 4:05 p.m. CT Spring Breakout game on March 15 at Sloan Park. The Cubs and Padres have the most Top 100 participants in the event.

Considered by Pipeline’s evaluators as one of the top power-hitting prospects in baseball, the 21-year-old Caissie began his spring on a roll, hitting 9-for-17 (a .529 average) through his first eight Cactus League games. The 6-foot-3 Caissie had one homer, two doubles, six RBIs and three walks in that early showing.

That follows a strong showing last season with Double-A Tennessee, where Caissie hit .289/.399/.519 with 22 home runs, 31 doubles, 84 RBIs and 76 walks in 120 games. Caissie said a key for him was focusing on his approach in certain counts, as opposed to any major mechanical adjustments.

Caissie said he benefited from suiting up for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic last spring, giving him a chance to learn from some more experienced players behind the scenes and on the field. He has taken the same approach this spring, when the Cubs have given him the chance to learn from the likes of Cody Bellinger, Ian Happ, Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner, among others.

“I get to see what guys do day in, day out,” Caissie said. “I got a little bit of experience with that in the WBC and I played a couple games here and there with the big league club last year in Spring Training. But it's just really good to be around guys that have been doing it for a long time and just learn from them and all their experiences.”

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What is Spring Breakout? MLB Spring Breakout is a four-day event showcasing baseball’s future: the current stars of Minor League Baseball. The inaugural edition will be held from March 14-17 at Grapefruit and Cactus league stadiums during Spring Training. A series of 16 exhibition games will be played between teams comprised of each MLB organization’s top prospects, creating a new touchpoint on the baseball calendar that celebrates our sport’s budding talent.

Here's the Cubs' Spring Breakout roster with MLB Pipeline's rankings:

PITCHERS
Cade Horton, RHP, No. 2 (MLB No. 26)
Michael Arias, RHP, No. 14
Drew Gray, LHP, No. 17
Brandon Birdsell, RHP, No. 27
Brody McCullough, RHP, No. 28
Porter Hodge, RHP, No. 29
Kohl Franklin, RHP, NR
Zac Leigh, RHP, NR
Riley Martin, LHP, NR
Frankie Scalzo Jr., RHP, NR

CATCHERS
Moises Ballesteros, C/1B, No. 8
Pablo Aliendo, C, No. 23

INFIELDERS
Matt Shaw, SS/2B, No. 5 (MLB No. 54)
James Triantos, 2B, No. 7 (MLB No. 73)
Jefferson Rojas, SS, No. 10
BJ Murray Jr., 3B/1B, No. 18
Haydn McGeary, 1B, No. 21
Josh Rivera, SS, No. 30
Ed Howard, SS, NR

OUTFIELDERS
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, No. 1 (MLB No. 16)
Owen Caissie, OF, No. 3 (MLB No. 47)
Kevin Alcántara, OF, No. 6 (MLB No. 65)
Brennen Davis, OF, NR
Christian Franklin, OF, NR