Moisés Ballesteros fittingly was playing the video game “MLB: The Show” when the call came.
Triple-A Iowa manager Marty Pevey phoned Ballesteros on Monday to share the news that his big-league dream was coming true. Ballesteros threw his video game controller in excitement.
“I was in shock for like 5 or 10 minutes,” a grinning Ballesteros said Tuesday in the home dugout at Wrigley Field.
The Chicago Cubs made the move official Tuesday afternoon, calling up Ballesteros, their No. 4-rated prospect according to MLB Pipeline, with left fielder Ian Happ going on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain. Right-hander Tyson Miller was transferred to the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man spot for Ballesteros, who started against the Miami Marlins in the seven spot as the designated hitter.
“My nerves, the first time in the big leagues — nothing,” Ballesteros said pregame. “It’s the same game. It’s the same goals for me.”
He said his goals ultimately come down to one thing: “Stay here in the Show.”
In a twist of happenstance, Ballesteros’ parents, Harry and Andry, were able to make it to Wrigley for his debut. They had arrived in Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday from Venezuela on a pre-planned trip to watch him play at Triple A. He was able to share the news of his big-league call-up with them in person. Tuesday represented the first time his parents, who are visiting for the next month, watched Ballesteros play professionally in the United States.
Ballesteros went 0-for-4 in his debut during the Cubs’ 5-4 walk-off win, hitting a ground ball in each at-bat. Twice, he had a chance to come through with a big hit, but grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded in the fourth and hit into a force out in the ninth after the first two batters reached.
“It was really fun for me, the fans here and the crowd — really special for me today,” Ballesteros said afterward. “I was really nervous in my first (at-bat) but nothing crazy.”
Only 21 years old, the lefty-hitting Ballesteros has raked at every level the Cubs have challenged him with since he signed with the organization for $1.2 million in 2021. And in the process, Ballesteros has put up his standout offensive numbers by facing older pitchers for nearly the entirety of his professional career. For only 41 of his 1,578 plate appearances at all levels, Ballesteros has hit against a younger pitcher.
That won’t change at the major-league level right now either.
Ballesteros, at 21 years, 186 days old, is the third-youngest player currently on an MLB roster behind Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio (21 years, 63 days) and Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday (21, 160). Only three big-league pitchers are under 23 years old: Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes, Detroit’s Jackson Jobe and Atlanta’s AJ Smith-Shawver, all of whom are 22.
Since the beginning of this century, Ballesteros is the fifth-youngest hitter to make his big-league debut for the Cubs, joining Pete Crow-Armstrong (21, 170 in 2023), Addison Russell (21, 88 in 2015), Starlin Castro (20, 44 in 2010) and Corey Patterson (21, 36 in 2000).
In 34 games with Iowa this season, Ballesteros hit .368 with seven doubles, one triple, four home runs, 18 RBIs and a .942 OPS. He leads all qualified Triple-A hitters in batting average while being seventh in OPS, 11th in on-base percentage (.420) and 14th in slugging percentage (.522). Ballesteros had a 19-game hitting streak from April 11 to May 3, during which he posted a .500 OBP and 1.171 OPS.
“He’s always been a hitter,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “He’s been the youngest player on his team, still, for his whole career. And he’s always been one of the better hitters, and that’s impressive.
“He’s got a gift to hit, that’s what his real skill is, what his real talent is, what his gift is. And that’s impressive. Every year you look up and you’re saying he’s doing that at this age, at that level, and you can’t help but take notice. It’s not easy to do, and you don’t see guys do it.”
Ballesteros is expected to predominantly DH for the Cubs, though Counsell didn’t rule out he might get a look at catcher before adding, “I don’t think that wasn’t the intent of calling him up, we have two catchers playing well.”
The Cubs are optimistic Happ will only miss the minimum 10 days on the IL, a move that was retroactive to Saturday, because of the oblique strain. But Counsell conceded he had initially thought Happ was only day-to-day, so “I was wrong already on this one.” Oblique injuries are notoriously tough to predict a recovery time. Seiya Suzuki will take over regular playing time duties in left field during Happ’s absence.
“There was a debate whether to kind of stretch this out, to go to kind of come, have him come in every day and see how we’re doing,” Counsell said of the IL decision. “Ultimately, time of year (we) said, ‘Let’s not go through that process and give it four or five days where you don’t have to worry about getting yourself ready to play in a game and have it behind you when you get activated.’ So that’s what we’re going to make sure we do.”