Canadian outfielder Owen Caissie has signed with the San Diego Padres, who selected him in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft, according to Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline.
Callis reports that Caissie signed for $1,200,004, which is slightly under the slot value assigned to the 45th overall pick.
Caissie, 17, is a high school outfielder from Burlington, Ont., who packs a lot of power in his left-handed bat. The six-foot-four Caissie has also played for the Canadian Junior National Team, where he famously hit a home run against a team of Toronto Blue Jays prospects earlier this year during spring training.
“I got emotional and I didn’t think I was going to,” Caissie said in an interview with Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi after being selected by the Padres. “I was very, very happy. People around me cried. I didn’t cry. I wasn’t really that anxious. I was very excited and I didn’t want it to be over, but I just wanted to hear my name called, you know? I’ll never get that feeling again, it was such a cool feeling to get my name called like that. Not many kids get it, especially with a five-round draft. That’s crazy.”
The Padres currently have two Canadians on their MLB roster: right-handed pitcher Cal Quantrill from Port Hope, Ont., and outfielder Josh Naylor from Mississauga, Ont.
Outfielder David Calabrese (Angels), shortstop Trei Cruz (Tigers), outfielder Jordan Nwogu (Cubs) and right-hander Logan Hoffmann (Pirates) were the other Canadian-born players selected in the 2020 draft.
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