Cubs rookie Ballesteros OK after being struck in helmet by deflected 105-mph line drive

CINCINNATI — Chicago Cubs rookie Moisés Ballesteros said he felt fine after taking a 105-mph line drive off the helmet in Thursday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds.

“When the ball hit my helmet, I felt a little bit nervous,” Ballesteros said after the Cubs’ 1-0 loss to the Reds. “But after the trainer checked me, he told me I’m good. I feel really good right now.”

Ballesteros, 21, was on first base with two outs in the fifth inning when Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a line drive toward left field. Reds first baseman Spencer Steer made a diving attempt at the ball, but it deflected off his glove and struck Ballesteros’ helmet.

Moisés Ballesteros appears to be okay after getting hit in the helmet by this line drive

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/sCW070SJ0S

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 19, 2025

Ballesteros stood in place for a moment before starting to run toward second. The ball went into center field, where Reds’ center fielder TJ Friedl charged toward it and threw it to second, where Elly De La Cruz was covering the bag and forced Ballesteros to end the inning.

“First, you’re worried about: Is Moisés all right? Because Pete hit that ball pretty hard,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “I think Moisés got caught behind the fielder a little bit. Not caught — it’s just the nature of the play and the ball’s hit really hard. … He’s OK, but it was a scary play, absolutely. That he had the presence to run to second was pretty impressive.”

Before his own baseball career, Reds manager Terry Francona grew up following his dad, Tito Francona, around in the big leagues and has been a major-league manager for 25 seasons. Few people have seen more baseball games than Francona, and this was a new one, even for him.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that — ever,” Francona said. “And the kid stayed in the game.”

Ballesteros, the team’s designated hitter on Thursday, had one more at-bat, striking out looking in the seventh inning.

“He’s fine,” Counsell said. “I think it just scared him and shook him a little bit.”

In right field, the Reds’ Will Benson said he thought he heard the sound of the ball hitting Steer’s glove before hearing the ball hit Ballesteros’ helmet. After that, he lost track of the ball.

“It was smoked,” Benson said. “I’m so glad it hit his helmet and not his actual head, because I don’t think he’d still be out there playing. That’s a blessing. I’m glad he’s OK. … A ball hit 105, if it hits you wrong, it could have been really bad.”

Friedl said he wasn’t sure what was happening, but saw the ball come into center field, so he ran toward it and noticed he had a play at second base. According to Friedl, he thought it hit off Ballesteros’ helmet first and was a dead ball. Had it not hit Steer’s glove first, it would’ve been ruled a single for Crow-Armstrong — breaking up Hunter Greene’s no-hit bid — and an out, ending the inning. Instead, it was a fielder’s choice.

“You always finish the play,” Friedl said. “That’s what you’re taught when you’re young, right? That’s the example of it. First off all, you hope he’s OK, but then I saw him running and I had to throw the ball.”

Greene had retired the first 12 batters he faced in order before Ballesteros reached on an error by Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz. Greene got a pop-up and a strikeout before facing Crow-Armstrong for the second time. The force at second ended the fifth inning, and Ballesteros walked off the field with a team trainer.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Fox broadcast showed Ballesteros in the dugout reenacting the play, and he appeared to be joking about the incident with teammates.