The Chicago Cubs swapped top prospects on their Major League roster to begin the month of September on Monday.
Owen Caissie, the Cubs’ No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, was optioned to Triple-A Iowa following 11 games in the majors. In a corresponding move, outfielder Kevin Alcantara—Chicago’s No. 5 prospect—was recalled after a brief stint with the club last September.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell stressed to Caissie that he could still return to the majors this season, per MLB.com’s Casey Drottar.
Why did Chicago send its No. 1 prospect back down?
The Cubs received an initial look at their top prospect during the last few weeks of August. Caissie made his MLB debut on Aug. 14 and slashed .208/.240/.375 over his 11-game stint in Chicago with one homer and four RBI.
But the 23-year-old wasn’t playing in an everyday role, prompting the Cubs to send him back to Triple-A.
“Very clearly just explained [that] why you’re going down is to play, because you haven’t been playing,” Counsell said, per Drottar. “But your Major League season is not over. When you get sent down at this time of year, sometimes you think, ‘My Major League season could be over.’ I think it’s important for him not to think that.”
The highlight of Caissie’s time with Chicago came in a win against the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 19, when he homered and drove in three RBI. But he made only two starts after that game, and the Cubs became concerned that his lack of playing time would negatively impact his development.
Alcantara returns to the majors after appearing in three games at the end of the 2024 season. Over 102 games for Triple-A Iowa this year, he slashed .266/.349/.470 with 17 homers and 69 RBI.
The 23-year-old was recalled for two main reasons, per Drottar. With center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong struggling down the stretch, Alcantara could give him a breather before the calendar flips to October. Additionally, his .998 OPS against lefties this year will be important during the postseason, which places more emphasis on matchups.