Cubs Prospect Profile: Moises Ballesteros |
Every year, you have those cases where a prospect is on the verge of breaking out and then puts himself on the map with a massive season. The Cubs are familiar with having stories like that, but unlike most teams, they tend to have a handful of guys break out each season, making it difficult to rank some of these prospects.
Last season was no different, as you could make the case that the Cubs had at least 10 prospects break out in 2023, which is going to make ranking these kids much more difficult as they progress through the system. However, the No. 7 prospect seems to have improved each season in pro ball, and he is now starting to be considered a building block for the Cubs future. His name is Moises Ballesteros, and for someone who just turned 20 last season, the future is exceptionally bright for the left-handed hitter. Taken as an international free agent in 2021, Ballesteros continued the Cubs trend of finding gold on the International Free agent market as he could be their best pickup in over five years. The Venezuelan Native spent several years on Venezuelan National teams. That experience helped him land a 1.2 million dollar contract the second highest for the Cubs international pool and second highest for International catchers. He made his US debut in 2022 at Age 18 and has only improved since. However, given his 5-7 frame and 195-pound body, there are some questions as to whether or not he will remain a catcher or get moved to 1B. Ballesteros also saw much more time as a DH last season, so that is another possibility to look for as he continues to develop as a player. When the Cubs drafted him, the hope was for him to emerge as the future catcher, and given what he could do with the bat, he had a great possibility. Across 48 games in the Cubs DSL system in 2021, Ballesteros held his own by hitting .266 and connecting on three homers with 25 RBIs. That season, his plate discipline stood out the most, as he took 31BB to just 25K. That is unheard of for a seasoned player, but for a teenager to have that great of discipline, you had to like what you saw after one summer. 2022 saw Ballesteros come stateside for the first time as he began the year with the ACL Cubs before getting the bump to Myrtle Beach. Ballesteros played in 63 games that season, 32 with the ACL Cubs and 31 with Myrtle Beach, where he continued to hold his own by hitting .257. He also showed increased power as he delivered 10 homers with 33 RBIs while walking 31 times and striking out 47. The lower average and higher strikeout numbers were to be expected once he hit full season, but what he did this past season leads many to believe that he could be a future star for years to come. Fully emerged in full-season ball, Ballesteros returned to Myrtle Beach to begin the season before getting promoted to South Bend and eventually AA Tennessee by season's end. After playing in just 111 games his first two seasons, Ballesteros topped that with 117 games this season and showed the improvement the Cubs hoped for. Not only did he hit a career-best .285, but with 14 homers and 64 RBIs, the power has continued to improve as he has 20-plus homer potential. Ballesteros also continues to show a great eye at the plate, where he took 63 walks and struck out 78 times. It is hard enough for a teenager to hold his own against older pitchers, but to see Ballesteros do it at the level he did is something no one expected. A big reason for his success comes from his hitting ability, as he is a very advanced hitter for his age and offers a very smooth left-handed swing to go with it. He does a great job of working counts to control the strike zone, and when he does make contact, he drives the ball well to all fields. He's still learning to drive balls in the air and to use the opposite field, and once he adds even more strength, look for his power numbers to continue to improve. While he is listed at 195 pounds, Ballesteros is closer to 230 pounds, which is why his future at catcher is coming into question. His thick lower half may be one of his strengths at the plate, but it prevents him from having the lateral quickness and agility you would like to see behind the plate, hence landing him Alejandro Krik comparisons. He has the tools to become a good receiver and is progressing with his blocking ability. He has solid arm strength but needs to quicken his footwork and transfer after allowing 85 steals in 98 attempts last year. However, the DH role or 1B could be the best route to use him as his bat is what will play the best at the Major League level.
