The Chicago Cubs are in a bit of a weird spot in terms of their lineup makeup right now. They need another big-time hitter to replace Kyle Tucker, but the front office seems content with the team’s lineup for the most part.
That could be due to the team’s confidence in up-and-coming rookies like Owen Caissie and Moises Ballesteros. Both players made their MLB debuts last season, and both showed some promise in their limited plate appearances.
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Whether the Cubs actually do sign someone like Alex Bregman this offseason to upgrade their lineup remains to be seen. One thing that is certain, though, is that Ballesteros deserves more at-bats in Chicago’s lineup in 2026.
The Cubs’ No. 2 prospect showed his potential in his limited time in the Majors last season. At just 21 years old, Ballesteros hit .298 with two home runs, two doubles, one triple, and 11 RBI across 66 plate appearances.
He was also one of the Cubs’ best hitters in the month of September, as he hit .333 with two home runs and five RBI across 14 games. However, the Venezuelan native just never saw consistent plate appearances in 2025.
That should change this upcoming season.
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With Tucker almost certainly leaving in free agency, that designated hitter spot is open for the taking. The Cubs could move Seiya Suzuki to right field, and Ballesteros/Caissie could split DH reps throughout the year.
While failing to add an impactful bat to replace Tucker and rolling with two inexperienced hitters instead is extremely risky for a team that has World Series aspirations, Ballesteros deserves to be a key part of Chicago’s lineup in 2026.
He has above-average hitting tools and has dominated the Minor League level since 2021. Last year, Ballesteros slashed .316/.385/.473 with 13 home runs, 29 doubles, 76 RBI, and five stolen bases in 114 games with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.
So, the hitting tools are definitely there for Ballesteros. He showed he can have competitive at-bats at the Major League level last year and projects to be a reliable contact hitter across his MLB career.
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However, his defense remains suspect. He is a below-average catcher and likely won’t see many opportunities there with Miguel Amaya and Carson Kelly leading that group in 2026. The 22-year-old is also blocked at first base by Michael Busch.
“Perhaps if he were on a rebuilding team, Ballesteros might get the runway to develop into a defender who could catch 100 games per year,” Ben Weinrib wrote in an article at MLB.com. “But in this situation, he seems more likely to spend the majority of his time as a sweet-swinging, 20-homer-per-year DH who occasionally moonlights at catcher and first.”
The Cubs, though, don’t need Ballesteros to be this above-average or even average fielder. They need his bat in the middle of that lineup, and that’s exactly what he’ll bring to this team in 2026 and beyond.