Thanks to an injury to Shota Imanaga, the Cubs called upon Cade Horton to help fill the void. And with Ian Happ reportedly headed to the IL, another top Cubs prospect will make his debut in the Windy City. Moises Ballesteros, the current IL leader in hits, is joining the Cubs.
A Look at Ballesteros
The Cubs originally signed catcher Moises Ballesteros for $1.2MM in January 2021, as part of Chicago’s international class. It didn’t take long for Ballesteros to establish himself as a force.
Ballesteros made it to full-season ball one year later and held his own in 2023, as he posted a .823 OPS with 41 extra-base hits over three levels. He then moved to Triple-A for the first time in 2024 after hitting well with Tennessee (AA), and proceeded to hit 10 home runs over 68 games with Iowa.
The 21-year-old could not be stopped in Triple-A during his second go-around. Ballesteros hit .368/.420/.522 (.942 OPS) with an International League-high 50 hits, 12 of which were extra-base hits, across 34 games. He did exceptionally well against fastballs, hitting .414 off them this season.
Ballesteros is a strong contact hitter who doesn’t strike out a lot whatsoever. He posted an 18.3% K% between Double-A and Triple-A last season. And in 2025, with the I-Cubs, just a 10.7% K%. The 21-year-old boasts a quick bat and can jump on mistakes in the zone. But something that’s also a positive is his ability to stay back when necessary and work balls the other way.
Some reports on Ballesteros honed in on the fact that he likes to chase a lot. And he does, as he had a 31.3% chase rate on pitches out of the zone in 2025. However, he has cut that down compared to 2024, as he posted a 35.7% rate with Iowa last season.
There is power in his setup, despite the .154 ISO in Triple-A this season. Ballesteros hit 19 home runs last season across 124 games.
Defensively, Ballesteros is a question mark. The 21-year-old had just a 12.1% CS% in 2024 and in 2025, a 12.9% CS%. He’s not adept when it comes to throwing out runners, and in 68 total games at Triple-A, Ballesteros ceded 10 passed balls.
The Cubs often used him as a designated hitter, but he was almost exclusively a catcher/DH in Iowa this season. Ballesteros played 26 games at first last season but just one this season.
Ballesteros is a hefty player who realistically only fits at first base aside from behind the plate. Thus, the 21-year-old may be a first baseman/DH long-term.
670 The Score in Chicago reported the Cubs will promote Moises Ballesteros on the 26-man roster to replace an injured Ian Happ. Happ will go on the injured list with an oblique injury.
Analysis
With Happ on the injured list, the Cubs have needed to call upon Seiya Suzuki to return to outfield duties. Suzuki shifted to a full-time DH role this season after defensive struggles in 2023 & 2024, and the fact that Chicago came into the year with an outfield of Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Kyle Tucker.
But since Happ got injured, Suzuki moved back to the outfield to play left field.
Happ’s injury, by proxy, left a temporary hole in the DH slot, and the Cubs have used Justin Turner and Carson Kelly, the latter of whom has paired very well with Miguel Amaya as Chicago’s catcher tandem this season, to fill it.
Now, in the Majors, Ballesteros figures to be in the conversation to fill in as DH while Suzuki is in left.
The Cubs are fine behind the plate, as both Kelly (222 OPS+ as of May 12, +1 OAA) and Amaya (107 OPS+, 0 OAA) have been productive offensively and defensively.
Check out more of our MLB coverage.