Moisés Ballesteros

Moisés Ballesteros
Ballesteros with the Iowa Cubs in 2025
Los Angeles Angels – No. 13
Designated hitter / Catcher
Born: (2003-11-08) November 8, 2003 (age 22)
Los Teques, Venezuela
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 13, 2025, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
(through 2026 season)
Batting average.227
Home runs11
Runs batted in46
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Moisés Alejandro Ballesteros (born November 8, 2003) is a Venezuelan professional baseball designated hitter and catcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs.

Career

Chicago Cubs

Ballesteros signed with the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent on January 15, 2021. He made his professional debut that year with the Dominican Summer League Cubs. He played 2022 with the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Cubs and Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

Ballesteros played 2023 with Myrtle Beach, the High-A South Bend Cubs, and the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, and was named the Cubs' Minor League Player of the Year. In 117 appearances split between the three affiliates, he accumulated a .285/.375/.449 batting line with 14 home runs, 64 RBI, and seven stolen bases. He returned to Tennessee to start the 2024 season and was promoted to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs during the season. Ballesteros was named the Cubs' Minor League Player of the Year for the second consecutive season after hitting .289/.354/.471 with 19 home runs and 78 RBI in 124 appearances split between Tennessee and Iowa. After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League.

Ballesteros was assigned to Triple-A Iowa to begin the 2025 season, hitting .368 with four home runs, 18 RBI, and three stolen bases over his first 34 games. On May 13, 2025, Ballesteros was promoted to the major leagues for the first time, going 0-for-4 with four groundouts. On May 16, Ballesteros recorded his first MLB hit and RBI against Yoendrys Gómez of the Chicago White Sox. On September 13, Ballesteros hit his first career home run off of Tampa Bay Rays starter Drew Rasmussen; coincidentally, the ball landed in the same section that former Cub Anthony Rizzo was seated in.

On April 27, 2026, Ballesteros hit his first career grand slam off of Randy Vásquez of the San Diego Padres.

Los Angeles Angels

On August 3, 2026, the Cubs traded Ballesteros and Mason McGwire to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for Ryan Zeferjahn. On September 3 against the New York Yankees, Ballesteros hit his first home run as an Angel.

References

  1. ↑ Bastian, Jordan (September 12, 2024). "Ballesteros' stock rising after huge season". MLB.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  2. ↑ Gonzales, Mark (November 4, 2024). "Cubs prospect Moises Ballesteros can hit, and his defense behind plate keeps improving". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Cubs Announce Moises Ballesteros and Cade Horton as Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year". MiLB.com. September 28, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  4. ↑ Montemurro, Meghan (May 10, 2024). "Chicago Cubs farm report: Insights on 8 prospects who are off to a strong start to the minor-league season". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  5. ↑ Rogers, Phil (June 28, 2024). "It's Getting Hard To Ignore Ballesteros In Cubs' Dilemma". Forbes. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  6. ↑ Birch, Tommy (June 28, 2024). "'He's going to be a big-league catcher': Moises Ballesteros has a future in MLB with Cubs". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  7. ↑ Birch, Tommy (October 23, 2024). "Iowa Cubs Moises Ballesteros and Brandon Birdsell named Cubs Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  8. ↑ Reynolds, Michael (October 29, 2024). "Ballesteros hopes consistent power in Fall League leads to winter ball, spring camp". MLB.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  9. ↑ Dykstra, Sam (October 14, 2024). "Ballesteros' AFL work behind plate translating into even better at-bats". MLB.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  10. ↑ Bastian, Jordan (May 13, 2025). "Cubs call up Moisés Ballesteros, place Ian Happ on IL". MLB.com. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  11. ↑ Montemurro, Meghan (May 14, 2025). "'He's always been a hitter': Chicago Cubs call up Moisés Ballesteros for MLB debut with Ian Happ on injured list". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  12. ↑ Bastian, Jordan (May 16, 2025). "Pete Crow-Armstrong has six RBIs in Cubs' win". MLB.com. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Moises Ballesteros hits first MLB HR to Anthony Rizzo's section". ESPN.com. September 13, 2025. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Crushes grand slam in loss". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
  15. ↑ Bastian, Jordan. "Cubs trade with Angels for fireballing reliever Zeferjahn". MLB.com.
  16. ↑ "Angels' Moises Ballesteros: Goes yard in loss". CBS Sports. September 3, 2026. Retrieved September 8, 2026.