Forgive Owen Caissie if he didn’t have the proper words for the moment — the final big moment of a big first weekend of the season for the Miami Marlins’ rookie.
Caissie got all of a middle-middle changeup from Colorado Rockies closer Victor Vodnik, sending it 394 feet to right-center field for a walk-off, two-run home run that sealed the Marlins’ 4-3 win on Sunday and the team’s series sweep of the Rockies at loanDepot park to open the 2026 season.
After that?
“I kind of blacked out,” he said. “I don’t know if kids imagine that, but no, it was awesome.”
“Awesome” might also be an understatement for his first three games with the Marlins, who acquired him from the Chicago Cubs on Jan. 7 as part of a package of four prospects for starting pitcher Edward Cabrera.
Caissie went 5 for 10 at the plate with the walk-off home run, two doubles, four RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base over those contests. It’s a small sample size, but four of his eight batted balls had exit velocities of over 100 mph, including the home run (107.9 mph).
In addition to the walk-off on Sunday, Caissie drove in the winning run on Saturday with an eighth-inning single that brought home Otto Lopez.
“You wish for moments like this,” Caissie said. “I just want to keep putting good swings on the ball. I know that it’s not always going to be like this, but if I continue to stay with my plan, I know good things are going to happen.”
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 29: Owen Caissie #17 of the Miami Marlins rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Colorado Rockies during the ninth inning at loanDepot park on March 29, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)
(Rich Storry/Getty Images)
That’s what the Marlins are hoping for, too. They want Caissie, ranked as MLB’s No. 40 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, to prove he can be a long-term cornerstone for the franchise. His first taste of the big leagues with the Cubs last season left a lot to be desired. He hit just .192 (5 for 26) with 11 strikeouts.
Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix at the time of the trade called Caissie a player who has the chance to be “a middle of the lineup threat for years to come.”
Manager Clayton McCullough on Saturday noted the “damage” that comes with Caissie when his approach at the plate is right.
“He’s got some real toughness to him and some edge,” McCullough said. “He gets in there and really competes.”
Catcher Liam Hicks saw that first-hand before the season began when they were teammates for Canada during the World Baseball Classic. Caissie struggled a bit to start spring training, logging just one hit with six strikeouts in nine plate appearances before leaving for the tournament. Once the Classic began, Caissie found his stride. He posted a .412 batting average (7 for 17), 1.241 on-base-plus-slugging mark, three doubles, one home run, five RBI and four runs in five games while helping Canada reach the quarterfinals.
“He’s such a good ball player — really, really good team player,” Hicks said. “He’s someone who’s locked in, trying to do help the team win any way he can.”
Miami Marlins designated hitter Owen Caissie (17) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a run against the Colorado Rockies in the second inning of their MLB game at loanDepot park on Friday, March 27, 2026, in Miami, Fla.
(Photo by Matias J. Ocner/mocner@miamiherald.com)
That’s a point Caissie himself has preached over the weekend. He spoke about being prepared for anything and knowing how best to succeed in whatever situation is thrown his way.
And he got tested in multiple ways all weekend.
He originally wasn’t in the starting lineup on Friday with the Marlins facing Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland. But when first baseman Christopher Morel strained his oblique late in batting practice, Caissie found himself as Miami’s designated hitter and batting eighth. He drove in Miami’s first run of the season with a double to the gap in left-center field in his first at-bat. He scored one batter later on Javier Sanoja’s ground ball down the third-base line that skipped into left field.
“Whenever you join a new team, you want to show what you can do, especially in the season,” Caissie said. “Spring Training is spring training, but to get that out of that way, it was great.”
Caissie started again on Saturday and responded with a three-hit game — a double in the second, a single and stolen base in the fifth and the RBI single in the eighth.
And then he came off the bench in the eighth inning Sunday with the Marlins trailing by a run. He grounded out in his first at-bat, rolling his ankle in the process, but stayed in the game.
One inning later, after Javier Sanoja hit a two-out double to put the tying run in scoring position. Two pitches later, Caissie got a pitch he was looking for to cap Miami’s first season-opening series sweep since 2009 and third ever in franchise history.
A successful weekend completed.
“He’s living on the barrel,” second baseman Xavier Edwards said, “and that’s usually a good thing. He hits the ball hard. Yeah, he’s been fun to watch. Really good athlete and fun to watch him step in the box. He can change the game with one swing.”