Chicago, IL – The Chicago Cubs have added outfielder Owen Caissie from Triple-A Iowa and infielder Ben Cowles from Double-A Tennessee to their 40-man roster. To make room for these additions, right-handed pitcher Adbert Alzolay and outfielder Brennen Davis have been designated for assignment, bringing the 40-man roster to its full capacity.
Owen Caissie: Caissie, 22, spent the entire 2024 season with the Iowa Cubs, posting a .278 batting average (131-for-472) with 29 doubles, three triples, 19 home runs, 75 RBIs, 11 stolen bases, and an .848 OPS in 127 games. The left-handed outfielder ranked in the top 10 in the International League for walks (T-7th, 71), OPS (9th), and on-base percentage (10th, .375). His 19 home runs tied for the fourth-most among all Cubs minor league players.
In 2023, Caissie was named a Southern League Post-Season All-Star and an MiLB.com Organizational All-Star, setting career highs in doubles (31), home runs (22), RBIs (84), walks (76), and slugging percentage (.519) while leading Tennessee to a Southern League championship. He also represented Team Canada in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, going 3-for-13 (.231) with one home run and four RBIs in three games.
A native of Burlington, Ontario, Caissie was selected by the Padres in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Notre Dame High School and was acquired by the Cubs on December 29, 2020, as part of a seven-player trade involving Yu Darvish. Over four professional seasons in the Cubs organization, Caissie has played in 406 minor league games, batting .278 with 92 doubles, seven triples, 59 home runs, 246 RBIs, and an .854 OPS. He is currently rated as the Cubs’ No. 2 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Ben Cowles: Cowles, 24, was acquired by the Cubs from the New York Yankees on July 30, along with right-handed pitcher Jack Neely, in exchange for right-handed pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. After missing time due to a right-hand injury, he appeared in four games with Tennessee following the trade.
In 92 combined games in 2024 between Tennessee and Double-A Somerset in the Yankees organization, Cowles batted .286 (97-for-339) with 25 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 51 RBIs, and an .829 OPS. In April, he was named the Eastern League Player of the Month after hitting .351 (27-for-77) with three home runs, 14 RBIs, a .623 slugging percentage, and a 1.057 OPS.
The six-foot Rochester, N.Y. native was selected by the Yankees in the 10th round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of the University of Maryland. Across four career minor league seasons in the Yankees and Cubs organizations, Cowles has a .268 batting average with 68 doubles, 10 triples, 30 home runs, 158 RBIs, and a .790 OPS in 330 games. He is currently rated as the Cubs’ No. 29 prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Adbert Alzolay: Alzolay, 29, has a career record of 12-25 with a 4.04 ERA (114 ER/254.0 IP) and 27 saves in 121 major league games (27 starts), all with the Cubs. He underwent Tommy John surgery in August.
Brennen Davis: Davis, 25, has hit .238 (283-for-1,189) with 61 doubles, three triples, 48 home runs, 165 RBIs, and a .766 OPS in 347 career minor league games, all with the Cubs organization.
