The Chicago Cubs are aiming for a late-season push in the second half of the year. Although their chances of making the playoffs are slim, there is still a small possibility.
With this in mind, the Cubs have an opportunity to make some strategic moves and evaluate their future prospects.
One potential move is calling up star catching prospect Moises Ballesteros.
MLB Trade Rumors suggested that Chicago might consider promoting Ballesteros. This would be a significant decision, but the catcher appears nearly ready for the major leagues.
Tomas Nido is expected to be out for the next four to six weeks due to surgery on his right meniscus. This situation might prompt the Cubs to bring up their promising slugging prospect.
“Those are the only three backstops on the 40-man roster at the moment, so the Cubs will have only non-roster depth if someone else gets hurt while Nido is out. Moisés Ballesteros might be next in line, despite his lack of major league experience, as he’s considered one of the top 100 prospects in the league and is currently in Triple-A.”
In the 2024 season at the Triple-A level, Ballesteros has played 29 games, batting .281/.328/.474 with five home runs and 15 RBIs.
Before his promotion to Triple-A, Ballesteros played 56 games at Double-A, where he hit nine home runs, drove in 43 RBIs, and batted .299/.372/.495.
These numbers indicate a strong hitting ability. While no one should expect identical numbers in the majors, Ballesteros should be able to make a significant impact.
All season long, the Cubs have struggled to get good production from the catcher position at the plate. Ballesteros is the best offensive bat at catcher in the entire organization. Promoting him would be a logical move.
Calling him up would also allow the Cubs to assess whether he is their long-term solution at catcher. If he performs well, Chicago will be set for the 2025 season. If he struggles, they might need to consider acquiring a catcher through free agency or the trade market.
Expect to see Ballesteros make his MLB debut before the end of the 2024 season. He is a valuable asset for the Cubs and could significantly enhance their offense.
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