The Cubs’ offensive outburst from the first half of the season has cooled off, to say the least. Their bats have simply not been the same at the top of their lineup, and the guys they’re counting on to produce. Craig Counsell even went as far as giving Kyle Tucker a few days’ rest, hoping to force a reset. In August, Tucker is hitting an abysmal .148 with a .381 OPS and zero extra base hits. Part of the reason for this could be the fact that the Cubs recently called up their number 1 prospect, Owen Caissie. He was called up six days ago, on August 14th, with the hope of being the answer. Although no one expected him to be an immediate superstar, he has been an enormous help.
Have the Cubs Found Their Spark?
Recent Struggles
Since the All-Star break, the Cubs’ offense has not delivered, wasting some amazing pitching. They have had the best ERA in the league since the All-Star break at 3.10, yet are somehow only 15-15 since then. This is solely due to the lack of production at the plate. They have only scored 3.73 runs per game since the All-Star break, which ranks 23rd in the MLB. As mentioned above, one of their best players, Kyle Tucker, has not been his usual self. The same goes for guys like Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch, and more. Since the All-Star break, they rank 24th in team OPS at .631. They are simply not playing to the same level they were early in the season.
Not all their guys have been terrible like Matt Shaw, who has been amazing, but a whole team is needed to succeed. They have tried many different lineup combinations, but none have done it for them. They finally resorted to calling up outfielder Owen Caissie, hoping he would make a difference. And so far, he has done that.
The Highly Stouted Prospect
Caissie has only played in 5 games, but has played extremely well. In his first two games, he went hitless, but he has turned it on since. Although it’s a small sample size, he is hitting .286 with a .786 OPS in his first 14 plate appearances. He has also already hit his first home run and has four RBIs, including three in one game against the Brewers yesterday.
Owen Caissie drives his first career homer the other way
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— MLB (@MLB) August 19, 2025
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As of right now, Caissie is taking Kyle Tucker’s spot in right field while he rests, and has played it well. Right field is not easy to play at Wrigley Field, but Caissie made two solid catches against the Brewers. Caissie is also able to play left field and DH if needed. In the long run, if Caissie continues to get normal playing time, he could play a huge role for this team. He is known for being a phenomenal hitter and has already come up clutch in his short time in the majors. He could be the guy they needed to light a spark in the team and finally get their offense going again, whether that comes from a start or a pinch-hit opportunity.
Main Photo Credits: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
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