Home / Sports / Cubs Rely on Young Slugger Ballesteros
Cubs Rely on Young Slugger Ballesteros
21 Mar
Summary
- Moisés Ballesteros will make the Cubs' Opening Day roster.
- He hit .298 with two homers in a brief MLB debut in 2025.
- He ranks among top prospects nationally and excelled at Triple-A.
The Chicago Cubs are counting on the bat of prospect Moisés Ballesteros, who has been informed by manager Craig Counsell that he will be on the team's Opening Day roster. This marks a significant step for the 22-year-old hitter from Venezuela, who is expected to contribute offensively from the start of the season.
Ballesteros made his MLB debut in 2025, appearing in 57 at-bats and demonstrating his potential by hitting .298 with two home runs. He remains eligible for prospect rankings, holding spots within the top 100 by Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, and Baseball Prospectus.
Last season at Triple-A Iowa, Ballesteros was particularly impressive, posting an .858 OPS with a .316 batting average. His performance included 29 doubles and 13 home runs, driving in 76 runs. He is expected to primarily serve as the designated hitter for the Cubs, though he could also see time at catcher if Carson Kelly requires rest.
