Cubs’ Moises Ballesteros Steals Spotlight From Anthony Rizzo

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Chicago Cubs prospect Moisés Ballesteros

There have been many players who have meant a lot to the Chicago Cubs franchise. One of them being Anthony Rizzo, who announced his retirement this past Wednesday. Rizzo came back to the Cubs as a retired hero. Furthermore, he was given a grand welcome as the team hosted the Tampa Bay Rays.

Rizzo threw the opening pitch, got a standing ovation from Cubs fans, and served as the team’s ambassador. He got the opportunity to sit and watch the current team play in the stands, along with the fans. It was here that Rizzo got his welcome to retirement, and a young player got his chance to shine.

Cubs’ Moises Ballesteros Delivers Special Moment to Anthony Rizzo

At the bottom of the second inning, the 21-year-old Moises Ballesteros got his breakout performance. Not long after being brought up from the minor leagues, Ballesteros blasted a hit off Rays’ Drew Rasmussen’s pitch and went deep for his first home run of his major league career. That hit would go into the stands, right where Rizzo was sitting.

Despite being right there in the stands, the ball bounced off the four-time Gold Glove award winner’s hands and into the hands of another lucky fan.

All the former Cubs star did was laugh it off as Major League Baseball pointed out the obvious. This day would belong to Rizzo, no matter how funny the failed catch was. That home run was a special moment for Ballesteros. It could be symbolic of a potential greatness that he could become.

Is Moises Ballesteros Trending Towards a Full-Season Contributor?

Ballesteros is playing in his eighth-ever game after being pulled up from Triple-A ball three times now. He had a productive outing in his first game back on Friday against the Rays. The Chicago standout went 2-of-4 at the plate with two hits, one of them being a triple, one run, and one RBI.

He would account for two runs (including his first-ever home run), one hit, one RBI, one walk, and no strikeouts. Ballesteros accomplished this while batting on the right side of the plate when he usually bats on the left side. Moreover, he would have his best performance of his young career despite the Cubs losing 5-4 to the Rays.

The Cubs would continue to look flat at the plate after having one of the league’s hottest offenses in the first half of the season. Young players like Ballesteros look to give the Cubs some form of life at the plate.

Through eight games this season on a major league roster, Ballesteros is accounting for a .280 batting average, a .357 on-base percentage, and a .520 slugging percentage. He has now accumulated six runs, seven hits, one home run, eight RBIs, three walks, and only one strikeout in 25 at-bats.

Chicago have only lost their second game when he makes an appearance in a game. He is playing at the designated hitter position. Ballesteros could find his way onto the field in his natural catcher position once he plays more games. There is a great chance he will remain on the roster throughout the regular season, maybe even the postseason.

Michael Hanich I am a long-time sports writer currently based in Mobile, Alabama. I have been making NFL Mock Drafts since I was 13 and continue to this day. Husband and father to a toddler and a pug. More about Michael Hanich