Ballesteros could return to the majors later in the season to give the Cubs a left-handed bench bat for the stretch run, Sam Dykstra and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com report.
Ballesteros got a brief taste of the majors earlier in the season, appearing in six games for the Cubs, but he's spent most of the year with Triple-A Iowa. The 21-year-old catching prospect has excelled at the level, posting a .321 batting average, .865 OPS, 11 home runs and 65 RBI in 99 games. If Ballesteros does return to Chicago at some point, it will be for his bat in the right matchups, as the Cubs seem content with Carson Kelly and Reese McGuire behind the plate, and Miguel Amaya (ankle) could rejoin the team at some point as well.
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Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Returns to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Ballesteros to Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The 21-year-old was called up Wednesday by Chicago and went 1-for-2 with three-run double that day against Milwaukee, but he'll head back to the minors to make room on the MLB roster for trade deadline acquisition Willi Castro. Ballesteros has a .334/.393/.497 slash line with 26 doubles, nine homers and three steals in 86 games this year at Iowa.
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Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Drives in three in return
Rotowire
Ballesteros went 1-for-2 with a three-run double in Wednesday's 10-3 win over the Brewers.
Ballesteros played his first game with the Cubs since May 19 and came up clutch with a bases-clearing double in the third inning. He was later lifted in favor of the right-handed Justin Turner to face Brewers lefty DL Hall. The 21-year-old Ballesteros has gone 4-for-18 with six RBI and three runs scored across six major-league contests, and his role moving forward may be shaped by the upcoming trade deadline.
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Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs recalled Ballesteros from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Ballesteros went 3-for-16 at the plate in an earlier stint with the Cubs and has slashed .332/.393/.496 with nine home runs this season with Iowa. The Cubs don't have a clear opening in the everyday lineup for the 21-year-old at the moment, though he could serve as the team's primary designated hitter in the short term while Ian Happ is day-to-day with a shin injury. Ballesteros will start at DH and bat seventh in Wednesday's series finale with the Brewers.
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Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Headed to majors
Rotowire
The Cubs are expected to recall Ballesteros from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Ballesteros went just 3-for-16 during his first MLB stint back in May but has bounced back nicely in the minors since then, slashing .307/.374/.477 with 38 RBI and 28 runs scored over his last 51 games. The corresponding move for the 21-year-old's promotion hasn't yet been announced, though it could foreshadow a move to the IL for Ian Happ, who injured his shin during Tuesday's loss to the Brewers.
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Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Raking at Triple-A
Rotowire
Ballesteros is slashing .336/.396/.504 with eight home runs across 62 games for Triple-A Iowa.
Ballesteros is tied for the International League lead in hits with 81 as he continues to knock on the door of the majors. The 21-year-old made his MLB debut back in May, appearing in five games for the Cubs while Ian Happ was on the injured list. Ballesteros could get the call the next time Chicago needs someone to fill in temporarily, but he may force his way into an even bigger role based on his performance in the minors. Ballesteros remains an intriguing prospect with plenty of fantasy potential, particularly if he sticks behind the plate long-term.
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Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Ballesteros to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.
With Ian Happ (oblique) back from the 10-day IL, Ballesteros is headed back to the minors. Across his first 18 big-league plate appearances, Ballesteros slashed .188/.278/.188 with zero extra-base hits, three RBI, three runs scored and a 2:1 BB:K.
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Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Expected to be sent back to minors
Rotowire
The Cubs will option Ballesteros to Triple-A Iowa prior to Tuesday's game in Miami, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
It's expected to be the corresponding move for Ian Happ's (oblique) return from the 10-day injured list. With Happ back in the fold and Seiya Suzuki returning to the designated-hitter spot, Ballesteros' playing time would have been cut dramatically. Instead, he will head back to Iowa, where he can play regularly. The rookie went 3-for-16 with three RBI and a 1:2 K:BB over five games during his first stint in the big leagues.
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Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Promotion made official
Rotowire
The Cubs selected Ballesteros' contract from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Ballesteros earned the promotion after batting .368 with four home runs, 18 RBI and three stolen bases over 34 games at Iowa. The 21-year-old will be making his major-league debut when he gets into a game and could serve as the Cubs' primary designated hitter while Ian Happ (oblique) is out, with Seiya Suzuki covering left field.
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Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Ready for big-league debut
Rotowire
Ballesteros is expected to be called up from Triple-A Iowa ahead of Tuesday's game against the Marlins, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
A 21-year-old catching prospect, Ballesteros will likely enter the lineup Tuesday against the Marlins and could see regular starts at designated hitter with Ian Happ (oblique) set to be placed on the injured list in a corresponding move. Ballesteros has been mashing at Triple-A so far this season, batting .368 with four home runs, 18 RBI and three stolen bases over 34 games.
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Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Success carrying over at Triple-A
Rotowire
Ballesteros is hitting .394 with one home run in eight games since being promoted from Double-A Tennessee to Triple-A Iowa on June 18.
Most evaluators are low on Ballesteros' defense behind the plate, otherwise the 20-year-old would easily profile as Chicago's catcher of the future. He threw out only nine percent of base stealers this season at Double-A, and physically, the only big-league catcher he resembles is Alejandro Kirk. Ballesteros, who is listed at 5-foot-7, 195 pounds, is one of the most natural hitters in the minors. It's his premium hit tool and above-average power that will get him to the majors in some role, perhaps between catcher, first base and designated hitter.
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Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Reaches Double-A at 19
Rotowire
Ballesteros was promoted from High-A South Bend to Double-A Tennessee on Sept. 12.
An unconventional prospect, Ballesteros draws some comparisons to Alejandro Kirk, as a round-bodied (listed at 5-foot-7, 195 pounds) catcher who may fit better at designated hitter but whose bat could end up profiling anywhere. All told, the lefty-hitting 19-year-old has a .284/.374/.448 slash line, 14 home runs, a 27.9 percent hard-hit rate and a 16.4 percent strikeout rate in 495 plate appearances across Single-A, High-A and Double-A.
