The Chicago Cubs have a top prospect that is almost a spitting image of Kyle Schwarber.
The Chicago Cubs have a ton of prospects that could figure to be up and debut with the Cubs this season. One of those prospects Moisés Ballesteros, could potentially be the Chicago Cubs next Kyle Schwarber.
Moisés Ballesteros (No. 4 prospect, MLB No. 44)
The Chicago Cubs No. 4 and MLBs No. 44 overall prospect Moisés Ballesteros is considered one of the top hitting prospects in all of Major League Baseball. Signed by the Cubs out of Venezuela Ballesteros grades hold true with having exceptional grabs in which MLB.com has both his Hit tool and Power tool at a grade of 60/80 and 50/80 respectively. With having an average arm, but considered a below average defender, Ballesteros bat is far more advanced than his defense.
In a recent article published to MLB.com Moisés Ballesteros was rated as the top international signing the Chicago Cubs have made. In 2024 for the Cubs had Ballesteros spend his time with both Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa. Ballesteros had an outstanding 2024 season with playing in 124 games had 24 doubles, 1 triple, 19 HRs, 78 RBI, for a slash line of .289/.354/.471 for and OPS of .826.
What’s in store for Moisés Ballesteros for 2025?
The 21-year-olds MLB era tracker has him pegged to debut with the Chicago Cubs at some point this season. The Cubs currently want to upgrade at the catching position with current starter Miguel Amaya showing he can’t put things together offensively yet. That is why the Cubs brought in Carson Kelly to help sure up the defensive side of the position given both can’t really hit.
The opposite problem seems to affect Moisés Ballesteros however, with being perfect offensively but not having the best defense. That is why the Cubs brought in veteran catcher Carlos Pérez on a minor league deal to provide a veteran presence who has a ton of experience at the position to help Ballesteros develop into a solid major league catcher.
The 5’10” 195lbs Ballesteros also has the ability to play first base as well and has shown he is able to play the position well. The Cubs currently have a need for another first basemen on the roster to be a backup for current starter Michael Busch. However, in my opinion that wouldn’t be a good option to have Ballesteros up with the Cubs to just ride the bench as a backup. Moisés Ballesteros needs to have consistent everyday at-bats in order to further his development.
Is Moisés Ballesteros the next Kyle Schwarber?
In my eyes Moisés Ballesteros is literally on the same trajectory as another former Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber. Like Ballesteros, Schwarber was taken by the Cubs in the 2014 MLB Draft as a catcher and quickly made his debut within a year. However, Schwarber never got used as catcher consistently. Having an exceptional bat that was far ahead of his defense, the Cubs quickly called up Kyle Schwarber and saw that he was never going to be a consistent everyday catch in the MLB.
I have a feeling that Moisés Ballesteros is on a similar path, however I think Ballesteros at least has a chance to be a big league catcher more consistently than Schwarber was given their need for one. Having Carols Pérez down on the farm to help Ballesteros will only add to his defensively ability while he continues to lock in at the plate.
Moisés Ballesteros will figure to start the season at Triple-A Iowa and could possibly be invited to spring training. I believe given the need for both a catcher and first baseman and how elite Ballesteros bat is, that if he absolutely reads it up during the first month of the season, the Cubs will be hard pressed to not give him the call up. Big things are in store for Moisés Ballesteros this season and hopefully he will be with the Cubs up sooner rather than later.
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