Freddie Freeman paved the way for Owen Caissie and Canada’s next WBC generation
Maybe the strangest a part of the World Baseball Classic is the rosters, and that is not essentially a nasty factor. It’s been entertaining and academic to study which American-born gamers are suiting up for different groups due to their dad and mom’ or grandparents’ heritage.
Initially, Los Angeles Dodgers star Freddie Freeman deliberate to play for Team Canada, simply as he did in 2017 and 2023. Although the 36-year-old Freeman was born in California, each of his dad and mom are from Ontario, that means the nine-time All-Star has twin citizenship. He would have joined the likes of Nolan Arenado (Team Mexico), Aaron Nola (Team Italy), and Harrison Bader (Team Israel) amongst the established big-leaguers born in the US instead playing for other nations.
commercial
However, Freeman withdrew from the event, citing private causes. In his absence, Miami Marlins outfield prospect Owen Caissie has shortly change into the face of Team Canada, a improvement that bodes nicely for Canadian and American followers alike.
If you do not know Owen Caissie, that is about to alter
Team Canada has loads of recognizable faces, starting from Jameson Taillon and James Paxton to Seattle Mariners slugger and staff captain Josh Naylor. That’s another fun part of the WBC – even should you do not acknowledge a big portion of a staff’s roster, the acquainted names hold the event grounded.
As Team Canada prepares for its first quarterfinal, it is time to familiarize ourselves with Owen Caissie. MLB Pipeline considers him the sport’s No. 42 prospect and the No. 3 prospect in his group behind left-handed pitchers Thomas White and Robby Snelling. He is a 6-foot-4, 190-pound outfielder who went 5-for-28 with a house run, 4 RBIs, and a .568 OPS in restricted plate appearances final 12 months. Following the Edward Cabrera commerce, Caissie will commerce Wrigley Field’s famed ivy for a Marlins stadium that also hasn’t introduced its notorious house run sculpture again inside.
That begs an essential query: how does Freeman issue into the equation? Freeman’s choice to stay in California has given followers a possibility to look at Caissie shine. He enters Friday night time’s showdown with Team USA having gone 7-for-14 with a house run, 5 RBIs, and three doubles.
commercial
Most notably, Caissie has solely struck out 5 occasions in her 17 plate appearances. Considering his strikeout charge in earlier MLB motion, the Marlins ought to already be extraordinarily enthusiastic about what he would possibly do upon returning to big-league camp.
The World Baseball Classic is not solely about elite MLB gamers destined for the Hall of Fame. Yes, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani have had their moments, and it has been heartwarming to see Clayton Kershaw take the mound once more. No one will deny that.
At the similar time, the WBC provides followers a possibility to look at the next generation up shut, whether or not it is prospects born after the first iPhone or veteran worldwide gamers who might come stateside quickly. Brazil pitcher Joseph Contreras turns 18 in May, however nonetheless held his personal towards a loaded Team USA lineup. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony completed third in AL Rookie of the Year voting final 12 months and owns a 1,007 OPS via 19 plate appearances for Team USA.
To be clear, Caissie nearly actually would have been on Team Canada’s roster no matter Freeman’s standing. But he is not sharing a lineup with the Dodgers star, and he has given us a motive to speak about Team Canada past the incontrovertible fact that they face Team USA in the quarterfinals. That in itself is an enormous victory for Caissie, Canada, and the Marlins.
commercial
More MLB information and evaluation:
This article was initially printed on www.fansided.com as Freddie Freeman paved the way for Owen Caissie and Canada’s next WBC generation.
