Player: Moises Ballesteros
Position: C/1B
Height: 5’7 Weight: 195 (He’s definitely heavier the listed 195)
Age: 19 Bats/Throws: L/R Current Level: A+-South Bend/AA-Tennessee
MLB.com Rank: 7th in Cubs System
Acquired: Signed in 2020-21 International Free Agency
Hometown: Los Teques, Venezuela
At just 19 years old, Ballesteros has made his way through Myrtle Beach and South Bend this season before joining Tennessee for their playoff push. He hit .274 in 197 at-bats in Myrtle Beach with a .394 on-base percentage. That speaks to Ballesteros’ above-average knowledge of the strike zone. His ability to work counts is what has allowed him to compete against much older thus far.
Prospect Grades
| Hitting | Raw Power | Game Power | Running | Fielding | Throwing |
| 25/50 | 55/60 | 25/55 | 20/20 | 30/40 | 40/40 |
Ballesteros has a good feel for swinging at good pitches and making contact, there is some concern about how he’ll react to faster pitching. He uses the opposite field but hasn’t yet shown the power he might be able to tap into – especially pull-side.
He’s listed at 195, but he’s much heavier than that. Speed is not something you’ll find from Ballesteros. The questions are whether or not he’ll be able to continue to develop defensively or if he’s destined to a Dan Vogelbach-like DH-only role. He’s shown promise behind the plate with a solid arm and improving blocking skills, but the mobility is still a strong concern.
Overall, his offensive skills are solid, and if he improves defensively, he could become a primary catcher. He’s still very young and at just 19 years old and has already shown some very clear bat-to-ball skills. Keep your eye on Moises Ballesteros in the coming years.