After starting the season at Double-A Tennessee, Chicago Cubs prospect Moises Ballesteros has been one of MLB Pipeline’s biggest movers in 2024.
Cubs Prospect Moises Ballesteros Shooting Up MLB Pipeline Rankings
Cruising Through the Minors
Ballesteros is billed as a catcher and a first baseman. But he’s being groomed as a catcher, which is arguably the least solidified position on the Cubs roster. He started 66 games at the position versus eight at first base and 39 as designated hitter.
His bat is the first thing everyone talks about regarding his performance. He slashed .299/.372/.495 with 58 hits, nine home runs, and 43 RBI in 56 games with the Double-A Smokies.
That earned him a spot on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 and a promotion to Triple-A Iowa. In 66 games there, he’s slashing .280/.344/.466 with 68 hits, 10 home runs, and 31 RBI.
Rewarded for Performance
His superior plate awareness, situational hitting, and power won Ballesteros an invite to the Futures Skills Game. A feature of the Minor League All-Star Game weekend, he finished third with a strong performance.
Meanwhile, Ballesteros continued to climb both the Cubs prospect pool and the MLB Top 100. In the last week of August, he was selected International League Player of the Week, becoming the second Cubs prospect to earn that honor after Pete Crow-Armstrong.
That week, the slugger went 10 for 17 with two doubles, a home run, and five RBI in five games against the Memphis Redbirds. At the same time, he led Triple-A in batting average, OBP (.650), and OPS (1.532), and ranked second among International Leaguers in slugging (.882).
Congratulations to Moises Ballesteros for being named International League Player of the Week!! pic.twitter.com/8Vf4ZE4ECQ
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) September 4, 2024
Not Quite Yet a Two-Way Player
There is no question that Ballesteros, who turns 21 on November 8, leads with his hitting. He’s one of only three minor leaguers 20 or younger with at least 114 hits and 18 home runs in 2024. Cubs Director of Player Development Jason Kanzler says his bat is his “carry tool,” adding that Ballesteros’ defense is steadily improving, although he still needs more work.
Citing Ballesteros’ size and body type, MLB Pipeline Podcast host Jim Callis likens him to Alejandro Kirk of the Toronto Blue Jays. The likeness is easy enough to see, although Kirk is an inch taller and 50 pounds heavier than the 5’7″ Ballesteros.
Kanzler says the young catcher has shown a lot of maturity and an eagerness to learn. Of his two-way ability, Kanzler adds that Ballesteros “can be so much more if the defense is major league-ready.”
A 2025 Preseason Battle is Shaping Up
As his potential increases, Ballesteros continues to climb the MLB Pipeline Top 100 list. He currently ranks 41 and he’s also risen to number 4 on the Cubs list of prospects. This certainly means Ballesteros will get a look during the 2025 preseason, where he’ll square off with Miguel Amaya.
Amaya has improved somewhat this season both as a hitter and a catcher. He’s been slumping lately, going just 1-for-18 in his last seven games with two RBI. But changes to his approach at the plate have had a positive impact. In his last 30 games, Amaya is slashing .253/.283/.453 with 24 hits, four home runs, and 23 RBI. His OPS is above league average over that period. Defensively, he’s one of the top catchers in blocks this season with 13.
Also joining this group of young catchers could be Ballesteros’ fellow Venezuelan, Pablo Aliendo. Aliendo, 23, currently ranks 13th among Cubs prospects. He’s taller and quicker than either Ballesteros or Amaya, has a good arm, and his .816 OPS with Double-A Tennessee this season is respectable.
Versatility May Lead the Way
What separates Ballesteros from the other Cubs catchers is his versatility. With offseason moves looming, the Cubs may need a player who’s comfortable both behind the plate and at first base. If he hits anything like he has in the minors the past two seasons, Ballesteros could be a valuable asset to the Cubs as they progress toward becoming an annual postseason player.
Photo Credit: © Cody Scanlan/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
