Young slugger Moises Ballesteros flashed serious potential, hinting at a bright future and a potential game-changer for the Cubs' 2026 lineup.
Cubs fans got to see a glimpse of what Moises Ballesteros can bring to the Major Leagues this past season. He only appeared in 20 games for the North Siders, but his limited at-bats left fans hungry for more.
Ballesteros was first called up on May 13 to replace an injured Ian Happ on the active roster. The Cubs prospect then saw some consistent playing time over the next week. He started five of Chicago’s next six games, going 3-for-16 with three RBI in those games.
Happ’s return on May 20 ultimately resulted in Ballesteros being optioned back down to Triple-A, but it was a promising first stint in the big leagues for the young slugger. At the end of the day, he wasn’t quite ready yet to contribute consistently.
However, in his second and third stints in the big leagues, it was pretty apparent that Ballesteros has the tools to be a very good baseball player. He came through in a big spot against the Milwaukee Brewers on July 30, clearing the bases on a double that brought in three runners.
Although Ballesteros was optioned back down to Triple-A just two days after that clutch hit, he was called upon once again by the Cubs toward the beginning of September. This was when fans started to see the 21-year-old’s full potential.
He hit .333 (13-for-39) with two home runs, one double, one triple, and five RBI across 14 games in September. Ballesteros had four multi-hit games, and his OPS stood at .999 during this stretch.
What Ballesteros was able to do toward the end of the season was fantastic to see. He was making hard contact and was taking his walks when he needed to. The Venezuelan native had an impressive 13.6% walk rate across 66 plate appearances.
Of course, this is all a small sample size, so we can’t read too much into it. But one thing that is certain is that Ballesteros can hit the ball well.
He did it in his limited at-bats at the Major League level and crushed Triple-A pitching while being one of the youngest hitters at that level this past season. At just 21 years old, Ballesteros slashed .316/.385/.473 with 13 home runs, 76 RBI, and 29 doubles in 114 games with the Iowa Cubs.
This is a player who has the potential to be a key part of Chicago’s future moving forward. While he didn’t make the Cubs’ Opening Day roster in 2025, Ballesteros will have a great shot to make it this upcoming season -- especially if Kyle Tucker decides to leave in free agency.
If Tucker does wind up leaving, that could mean more at-bats for Ballesteros in 2026.