BWDIK: Brown, Caissie, Gagne, Flewelling, Paxton, Quantrill, Tong
Fieldhouse Pirates and Junior National Team alum Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) was at Wrigley Field on Saturday ready to be activated if outfielder Kyle Tucker had to be placed on the injured list.
September 7, 2025
By Kevin Glew
Canadian Baseball Network
Some Canadian baseball news and notes from the past week:
Quantrill released by Braves
On Thursday, the Atlanta Braves released right-hander Cal Quantrill.
The Port Hope, Ont., native was hit hard in his two starts for the Braves, allowing 12 runs in eight innings, after being claimed off waivers from the Miami Marlins on August 21.
In 24 starts with the Marlins earlier this season, Quantrill was 4-10 with a 5.50 ERA.
The 30-year-old right-hander signed a one-year, $3.5-million contract with the Marlins in February.
In all, the Ontario Terriers and Junior National Team grad has toed the rubber in seven big-league seasons with the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Marlins and Braves. He is 47-46 with a 4.35 ERA in 187 appearances (149 starts).
Caissie in Chicago if Cubs need him
Outfielder Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) was at Wrigley Field on Saturday just in case the Chicago Cubs had to place Kyle Tucker on the injured list due to calf tightness. Tucker, however, felt significantly better yesterday and Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters that the slugger will not require a stint on the IL.
On September 1, Caissie was optioned to triple-A Iowa after going 5-for-24 (.208 batting average) with a homer and four RBIs in 11 games for the Cubs in his first taste of big-league action.
A Fieldhouse Pirates and Junior National team alum, Caissie has been outstanding with triple-A Iowa this season. In 93 games, the 23-year-old slugger owns a .284/.385/.553 slash line, a .939 OPS and has belted 22 home runs. In total, he has 101 hits, including 26 doubles.
The left-handed hitting outfielder has played five seasons in the Cubs’ organization.
Tong makes second big league start
On Saturday, Jonah Tong (Markham, Ont.) allowed four earned runs on three hits to the Cincinnati Reds, in six innings and was saddled with the loss in his second big league start. He struck out six Reds batters.
That start came eight days after his major league debut against the Marlins in which he also struck out six – including Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) and Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) – and permitted just one earned run in five innings.
Prior to his call-up, the 22-year-old Toronto Mets grad was dominant at triple-A and double-A this season. His combined 179 strikeouts are the most by any pitcher in the affiliated minor league ranks. He also ranks first among minor league pitchers in ERA (1.43) and opponents’ batting average (.148).
Mets recall Young
On Tuesday, the Mets recalled outfielder/first baseman Jared Young (Prince George, B.C.).
Now in his third tenure with the big league club this season, he socked a pinch-hit solo homer in the seventh inning on Saturday. In total, he has played in 21 games for the Mets this season and is 8-for-42 (.190 batting average) with four home runs and six RBIs.
The 30-year-old Canuck excelled with triple-A Syracuse this season. In 66 games, he batted .306 with 15 home runs and 46 RBIs and had a .964 OPS.
Young has had two previous major league stints with the Cubs in 2022 and 2023
26 years ago today, Gagne made MLB against Dempster
On this date 26 years ago, two former Junior National Team roommates faced off at Pro Player Stadium in Miami.
Fresh off being named the Texas League (double-A) Pitcher of the Year, Eric Gagne (Mascouche, Que.) started and made his major league debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers against his 1993 and 1994 Junior National Team teammate Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, B.C.) who was making his 32nd big league start.
The two Canadians combined to toss 13 scoreless innings. Unfortunately, neither got a decision in the Marlins’ 2-1 win.
After a one hour and 21-minute rain delay, Dempster took the mound for the Marlins that night and proceeded to shut down the Dodgers’ lineup for seven innings. The 22-year-old righty allowed just four hits and struck out seven. It was the 32nd and, to that point, best start of his young major league career.
Not to be outdone, Gagne, with friends and family members in the crowd of 13,644, hurled six scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits, while striking out eight. Only one ball left the infield while the 23-year-old Canadian was on the mound — a first inning single by Mark Kotsay.
For good measure, Gagne also singled up the middle in his first major league at bat against Dempster in the top of the third inning.
“This is like a dream come true,” Gagne told reporters after the game. “I always believed I could pitch here, I have a lot of confidence, but to do this and get a hit too – it’s awesome!”
The match-up between the two Canadian starters was the first in the major leagues since Denis Boucher (Lachine, Que.), then with Cleveland, pitched against Kirk McCaskill (Kapuskasing, Ont.) of the California Angels, on July 20, 1991.
The last time two Canadian starting pitchers had toed the rubber in a National League contest was July 28, 1973 when the St. Louis Cardinals sent Reggie Cleveland (Swift Current, Sask.) to the mound against Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) of the Cubs.
Flewelling named Rays’ minor league player of the month
Congratulations to catcher Nathan Flewelling (Innisfail, Alta.) who has been named the Tampa Bay Rays’ Minor League Player of the Month for the month of August.
In 25 games with the class-A Charleston RiverDogs, he batted .299 with a .471 on-base percentage and a .952 OPS. Of his 23 hits during the month, eight went for extra base hits, including three home runs.
A Junior National Team alum, the 18-year-old Flewelling was selected in the third round of the MLB draft by the Rays in 2024.
His performance with the RiverDogs earned him a promotion to the High-A Bowling Green Hot Rods on Tuesday.
Blue Jays promote Brown to triple-A
On Tuesday, the Toronto Blue Jays promoted Dasan Brown (Oakville, Ont.) to the triple-A Buffalo Bisons.
In 86 games with the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats this season, the speedy outfielder had 31 stolen bases.
Selected in the third round of the 2019 MLB draft by the Blue Jays, the Ontario Blue Jays and Junior National Team grad was the highest Canadian taken that year. He is in his sixth season in the Blue Jays’ organization.
12 years ago, Paxton made MLB debut
Twelve years ago today, James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.) made his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners.
He started and permitted just one run, while fanning three, in six innings and earned the win in the Mariners’ 6-2 victory over the Rays at Safeco Field.
Paxton threw 59 of his 95 pitches for strikes.
His first MLB strikeout was outfielder Desmond Jennings in the third inning.
Fun Fact of the Week
Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) was dominant in the final three months of the 1974 season with the Texas Rangers. Here are his stats during that stretch:
-21 starts
-16-3
-1.79 ERA
-175 2/3 innings
-16 complete games (!)
-132 strikeouts