Not to completely kill the mood for the Chicago Cubs after they went 2-7 in their latest road trip, but they have two of their top outfield prospects who have been missing a handful of games down at Double-A, too. What’s worse or maybe just annoying, is that we have no clear idea why Pete Crow-Armstrong and Owen Caissie haven’t been in the lineup for the Tennessee Smokies last week.
Let’s start with Crow-Armstrong, the Cubs top-rated prospect in the farm system. The 21-year-old center fielder last played on May 16, last Tuesday against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. The left-handed hitter went 0-for-4, at the plate, but there wasn’t any indication of him looking hurt while batting or when he was roaming the outfield.
Earlier this season, Crow-Armstrong missed a week because of illness, missing five games between April 19-24. Hopefully there isn’t anything major going on with PCA and he once again only misses five games during this absence. The outfielder has not been placed on the seven-day injured.
So far in 2023, Crow-Armstrong has slashed .276/.322/.467, with 4 home runs, 16 RBI, 19 runs scored, 4 doubles, 2 triples, while going 10-for-13 in stolen base attempts. He has 22 strikeouts and 4 walks in 115 plate appearances. PCA got off to a great start in his Double-A debut, slashing .316/.355/.526, in 14 games during April, but he has gone through a slump in his first 11 games in May, slashing just .229/.283/.396.
As for Caissie, we do at least have video of what could be the reason missed the last two games for the Smokies this past weekend. The left-handed slugger was removed from Friday night’s game after running out a ground ball. Now, I’m saying there is video, but all we know is that Caissie left alongside his manager a member of the Smokies’ training staff.
However, before anyone panics that everything that can go wrong, will go wrong with the Cubs right now, apparently there has been a stomach bug going around that could have been the reason that Crow-Armstrong was out since Tuesday. So, it’s possible that Caissie also caught that illness?
But that’s why this is all a question mark, we just have no updates down from the minor leagues until after guys are either back in action or placed on the injured list. Hopefully, it is just a bug, although that can also be a shitty situation for anyone. Pun, intended.
Caissie, who will turn 21-years-old until July, has been one of the better hitters at Double-A this entire season. In 33 games, Caissie has a slash line of .277/.367/.529, with 7 home runs, 25 RBI, 17 runs scored, 7 doubles and 1 triple. He has a 145 wRC+, which ranks sixth overall in the Southern League. Similar to PCA, Caissie started off hot in April, posting a 1.018 OPS, but has slowed down in May. However, Caissie is still recording a respectable .762 OPS through 15 games this month.
The Tennessee Smokies a six-game series at home on Tuesday against the Birmingham Barons.
Tuesday against the Birmingham Barons