Minor League Baseball

Chicago Cubs Top Prospect Moisés Ballesteros Expected to Make MLB Debut Tuesday

Moisés Ballesteros' high-level production with Triple-A Iowa has reportedly convinced the Chicago Cubs to call up the young catcher once Ian Happ hits the injured list.
Sam Connon|
Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs designated hitter Moises Ballesteros against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale.
Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs designated hitter Moises Ballesteros against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are calling up catcher Moisés Ballesteros from Triple-A Iowa, 670 The Fan's Bruce Levine reported Monday night.

Ballesteros is expected to be in the Cubs' starting lineup against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday. Should he wind up seeing action, it would mark Ballesteros' MLB debut.

The 21-year-old is currently ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the Cubs' farm system and the No. 61 prospect in baseball.

The Cubs will have an open roster spot for Ballesteros to fill once they officially placed outfielder Ian Happ on the injured list with an oblique issue. Happ has already missed three games with the ailment.

Ballesteros is batting .368 with four home runs, seven doubles, 18 RBIs, three stolen bases and a .942 OPS through 34 games in Triple-A this season. It is a continuation of his showing in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .317 with a .933 OPS, as well as his .350 batting average and 1.059 OPS in spring training.

For his minor league career, Ballesteros is a .288 hitter with an .830 OPS, averaging 21 home runs, 34 doubles and 91 RBIs per 162 games.

The 5-foot-8 slugger is listed at 195 pounds, although he is believed to be considerably heavier. MLB Pipeline has his hit tool graded at a 60 and his power tool graded at a 50.

Ballesteros' first big league contest is scheduled to get underway at 7:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

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Sam Connon
SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a staff writer for “Minor League Baseball on SI’’ and other "On SI'' baseball sites. He previously covered UCLA Athletics for “UCLA on SI’’ and won awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for “New England Patriots on SI’’ and was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk. Follow Sam on Twitter @SamConnon.

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