Owen Casey arrives in Chicago with the kind of energy that can reshape a lagging lineup. The Cubs are elevating their top prospect for a big-league bath, hoping his left-handed power and athleticism translate quickly after a standout Triple-A season (22 homers, 52 RBIs, 26 doubles) and a 966 OPS. Debuting in Canada adds a storytelling layer to a moment Chicago has been chasing since the Yu Darvish trade era, signaling a bold, service-clock-starting push to spark the offense.

Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ and Pete Crow-Armstrong provide a surrounding framework, while Casey’s arrival could tighten the middle of the order and force opponents to adjust to unfamiliar looks in the Cubs’ outfield mix. The move is aggressive, but with the Cubs not short of outfield options, Casey’s ceiling could emerge in a short sprint where every at-bat matters for the near-term playoff push and for fantasy managers watching a rookie begin his MLB arc.