WATCH: Owen Caissie on spring training and learning from Cubs veterans |
Tony Crumpton
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- Sunday, February 16 2025
Marquee Sports Network's Cole Wright caught up with Cubs top prospect Owen Caissie to discuss being back in Mesa for spring training, working alongside Matt Shaw, learning from the Cubs alumni and more.
“[Making it to the big leagues] really doesn’t weigh on me, I’m not going to lie,” Caissie said to Wright. “I’ll get there when I get there. I have a plan. Everything’s meant to happen for a reason so it doesn’t really strain on me. Obviously, it drives me a little bit, but I won’t lose sleep over it if I don’t. It’d be cool if I do, but I have a plan. Everything happens for a reason.” Watch the interview below:
Video summary/cliff-notes:
(00:01) Owen Caissie, the Cubs' second-ranked prospect, shares his excitement about spring training at Sloan Park and being around talented teammates.
(00:24) On learning from veterans like Kyle Tucker, Caissie aims to observe and absorb their habits, calling himself a "fly on the wall."
(00:49) He is focused on being himself and contributing wherever the Cubs need him, emphasizing his readiness to play.
(01:12) Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg shared his baseball experiences, revealing he has attended 45 out of 47 spring trainings since age 18. Caissie appreciates the wisdom he offers.
(01:37) Caissie is working on his hitting approach—staying on the fastball—and improving his defensive jumps in the outfield.
(02:01) He stresses the importance of conditioning, recovery, and nutrition, highlighting the Cubs’ emphasis on player well-being.
(02:51) Praises teammate Matt Shaw for his strong work ethic, always being the first in the gym every morning.
(03:15) Discusses the drive among young Cubs prospects like himself and Matt Shaw, emphasizing their goal of breaking into the big leagues and staying there.
(04:31) Excited about the Cubs’ upcoming matchups, including games against the Dodgers and a potential trip to Japan, though he remains uncertain if he'll be on that roster.
(05:42) As a Canadian, he follows international hockey closely and was disappointed by Team Canada's recent loss to the U.S., but still enjoyed watching the competition.
