Cubs call up star prospect as Ian Happ hits IL

The Chicago Cubs will be without Ian Happ for a while, as the infielder/outfielder is expected to hit the 10-day disabled list because of an oblique issue.

With Happ, who has missed the last three Chicago games, not available, Chicago has promoted star prospect Moisés Ballesteros from the minors. He can make his big league debut this Tuesday night against the Miami Marlins in the second game of a three-leg series at Wrigley Field.

“Breaking News – The Cubs will call up C/ DH Moises Ballesteros from Triple-A Iowa. He will likely be in the starting lineup tomorrow. Ian Happ to go on IL with oblique issue,” shared Bruce Levine of The 670 Score via a post on X on Monday night.

Ballesteros played first base and catcher in the minors, but he might not play either role against the Marlins. For one, the Cubs may find it hard to have his start over catcher Carson Kelly, who boasts a 1.114 OPS so far in the 2025 MLB regular season. Meanwhile, Michael Busch, at first base, is hitting .267/.353/.533 in his last five games.

Related Chicago Cubs NewsArticle continues below

However, Busch also went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Monday’s 5-2 victory against Miami. A designated hitter role could be in the offing for Ballesteros. Chicago is just 16th in the big leagues in 2025 with just a 100 wRC+ in the designated hitter position, as Justin Turner is hitting only .155 to date. Meanwhile, Seiya Suzuki, the most-used DH by the Cubs, is hitting .245/.306/.510.

Regardless of which position Ballesteros will occupy, Cubs fans will have their attention on him once he sets foot at the plate. The 21-year-old Venezuelan is a career .288/.371/.459 hitter in the minor leagues with 50 home runs and 218 RBIs. He has turned heads with his performance at the plate in 2025 with Triple-A Iowa Cubs. slashing .368/.420/.522 with four home runs and 18 RBIs through 34 games and 150 plate appearances.

Hopefully for the Cubs, Ballesteros will be able to cover for what they’re missing from Happ’s bat. On the season, the 30-year-old Happ is hitting .269/.364/.381 with three home runs with 19 RBIs and an OPS+ of 114.


Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He’s a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines.

Related Posts

🚨 JUST IN: David Ortiz Is Red Sox Forever — Historic $260M Lifetime Deal Signed! An emotional celebration is sweeping through Boston after reports revealed David Ortiz has signed a stunning lifetime agreement worth $260 million to remain connected with the Red Sox organization forever. For fans who still see “Big Papi” as the heart of an unforgettable era, the historic move feels less like a contract and more like a promise that one of baseball’s greatest icons will always belong to Boston. The announcement has already sparked massive reactions across the baseball world….

In a move that feels bigger than any single contract in baseball history, David Ortiz has signed a stunning $260 million lifetime deal with the Boston Red…

🚨 BREAKING CHICAGO BASEBALL WAR RETURNS TO RATE FIELD — The White Sox are officially set to host the Cubs in the opening game of the Crosstown Classic, reigniting one of baseball’s fiercest city rivalries as pride, bragging rights, and pure Chicago chaos prepare to explode under the lights 👀🔥👇👇👇

Chicago baseball fans are preparing for one of the most exciting weekends of the 2026 MLB season as the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox officially renew…

🚨 BREAKING A HUGE RED SOX RETURN MAY BE GETTING CLOSER — A Boston Red Sox outfielder has officially reached a major first milestone in his recovery from the injured list, giving fans fresh hope that one of the team’s missing pieces could soon return just as the season begins reaching a critical turning point 👀🔥👇👇👇

The Boston Red Sox may finally be seeing a small ray of hope emerge during what has quickly become one of the most frustrating offensive stretches of…

🚨 BREAKING EMOTIONS BOIL OVER AFTER RED SOX–PHILLIES CLASH — Following a tough showdown against Philadelphia, Ranger Suárez didn’t hold anything back, delivering a brutally honest reaction that is already sparking major conversation among Red Sox and Phillies fans about pressure, expectations, and what really happened on the field 👀🔥👇👇👇

Boston Red Sox left-hander Ranger Suarez gave his former team fits Thursday night, but the Philadelphia Phillies pulled away late for a 3-1 win at Fenway Park. Suarez, making his…

🚨 BREAKING AARON JUDGE JUST SENT A MESSAGE TO THE ENTIRE BRONX — Ahead of the explosive Subway Series showdown with the Mets, Yankees captain Aaron Judge has reportedly delivered a serious warning to his teammates as pressure, pride, and New York bragging rights collide under the brightest lights in baseball 👀🔥👇👇👇

On paper, this weekend’s three-game Subway Series between the New York Yankees and New York Mets, which will take place at the Mets’ Citi Field, should mostly…

🚨 BREAKING THE CUBS MAY BE CLOSING IN ON A GAME-CHANGER — Chicago has reportedly received a major positive update in its pursuit of a star pitcher, sparking excitement across Cubs Nation as fans begin to believe the front office could be preparing a blockbuster move capable of transforming the team into a serious October threat 👀🔥👇👇👇

Getty The Chicago Cubs will most likely be looking to bring in a quality starting pitcher this summer. Heading into the 2026 campaign, the North Siders had…