This was the only way Moises Ballesteros was going to crack the Chicago Cubs’ 26-man roster this early in the season. All-Star and Gold Glove outfielder Ian Happ is headed to the IL with an oblique issue, which allowed manager Craig Counsell to shift Seiya Suzuki back to the outfield, opening up everyday at-bats for the hot-hitting prospect at the big-league level.
So why should Cubs fans take note of Ballesteros’ arrival? He’s got one of the most highly-graded hit tools in the entire organization and has absolutely torched pitching at the Triple-A level this year. In 150 plate appearances, the young backstop has slashed .368/.420/.522 with 12 walks to just 16 strikeouts, not to mention a dozen extra-base hits.
How old is Moises Ballesteros?
Ballesteros is just 21 years old – meaning he’s more than 5 1/2 years younger than the average Triple-A player. Despite his age, he’s been dominant at the highest level of the minors offensively. Born in Venezuela on Nov. 8, 2003, he’s been a member of the Cubs organization since 2021, when he debuted in the Dominican Summer League.
What position does Moises Ballesteros play?
The Venezuelan native is a catcher, by trade, but his defensive home long-term is very uncertain. There are serious questions as to whether or not he has the physical tools or skillset to stick behind the plate as a big-leaguer. Some have speculated he’s best suited as a first baseman and DH for the Cubs.
What role will he play for the Cubs in the short-term?
Ballesteros will almost exclusively DH for Chicago, with a loaded outfield mix featuring Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker. The strong performance of the Cubs’ catching duo of Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya will likely prevent him from seeing action there, and it’s pretty clear he’s here for one thing and one thing only: to be a direct offensive upgrade in the lineup.
In an ideal world, someone on the Cubs’ bench could have stepped into this role. But Justin Turner has been abysmal and Jon Berti has been tasked with handling third base as Matt Shaw irons out the kinks back at Iowa. The hope is Ballesteros seamlessly steps into the DH role and helps the team keep moving forward while Happ works his way back from injury.