The Chicago Cubs are making a bold move by calling up 21-year-old prospect Moises Ballesteros from Triple-A. The organization’s top hitting prospect will replace Ian Happ on the 26-man roster, as Happ is being placed on the 10-day injured list due to lingering oblique discomfort that’s kept him out the past few days.
Ballesteros has been outstanding in the minors this season and, at just 21, is building a strong case as one of the most promising pure hitters in all of baseball. Bruce Levine was the first to report the news of Ballesteros’ call-up following the Cubs’ 5-2 win over the Marlins on Monday night.
In 34 games with Triple-A Iowa, Ballesteros has posted an impressive slash line of .368/.420/.522 with four home runs in 150 plate appearances. He recently ended a 19-game hitting streak on May 4 but has remained productive, going 7-for-23 over his last six games.
While it’s unfortunate to lose Happ to injury, there’s plenty of excitement surrounding Ballesteros’ major league debut. The Cubs clearly intend to give him playing time rather than stash him on the bench. Instead of leaning more on the struggling Justin Turner at DH, the team is giving Ballesteros a real shot to contribute at the plate.
Though he might not see regular starts behind the plate during this first big-league stint, Ballesteros is being brought up to make an impact. Once officially added to the roster, he’ll be the youngest player currently in Major League Baseball.