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Every Major League Baseball season tends to revolve around star power.<\/p>\n
Fans naturally focus on the biggest names, the All Stars, and the players expected to carry their teams toward postseason success.<\/p>\n
For the Chicago Cubs<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, players such as Alex Bregman<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, Michael Busch<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, and Nico Hoerner<\/span><\/span><\/strong> will naturally attract most of the attention heading into the 2026 season.<\/p>\n But championship level teams rarely succeed based solely on their biggest stars.<\/p>\n Often, the difference between a good team and a great one lies in the players who step up quietly and deliver consistent production when the spotlight is elsewhere.<\/p>\n Those unexpected contributors frequently become the true X factors<\/strong> of a season.<\/p>\n And for the Cubs, two young players could emerge in exactly that role.<\/p>\n Those players are Matt Shaw<\/span><\/span><\/strong> and Mois\u00e9s Ballesteros<\/span><\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Both are still early in their careers, but each possesses the potential to elevate Chicago\u2019s lineup in ways that may not yet be fully appreciated.<\/p>\n Baseball history repeatedly shows that postseason success often depends on unexpected heroes.<\/p>\n A recent example came during the 2025 season<\/strong>, when the Toronto Blue Jays<\/span><\/span><\/strong> reached the World Series.<\/p>\n The Blue Jays featured several superstars, including George Springer<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, Bo Bichette<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.<\/span><\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Yet one of the most impactful players during their postseason run was a less celebrated name.<\/p>\n Infielder Ernie Clement<\/span><\/span><\/strong> quietly delivered one of the most remarkable performances of the playoffs.<\/p>\n Clement finished the postseason with a stunning .411 batting average<\/strong> and an impressive .978 OPS<\/strong>, becoming a nightmare for opposing pitchers despite batting near the bottom of the lineup.<\/p>\n His contributions proved that success often comes from unexpected places.<\/p>\n For the Cubs, the same type of breakout performance could come from Shaw or Ballesteros.<\/p>\n The arrival of Alex Bregman in Chicago has created an interesting situation for Matt Shaw.<\/p>\n With Bregman occupying third base, Shaw\u2019s natural position, the young infielder has been forced to adapt.<\/p>\n Instead of simply stepping aside, Shaw has begun learning new defensive roles<\/strong>, including time in the outfield.<\/p>\n He also has experience at multiple infield positions, making him a potential utility weapon for the Cubs coaching staff.<\/p>\n While that adjustment presents challenges, it could also unlock new opportunities.<\/p>\n Players who can move between positions often become extremely valuable over the course of a long season.<\/p>\n Injuries, slumps, and lineup changes are inevitable.<\/p>\n Versatile players like Shaw allow managers to respond quickly to those challenges.<\/p>\n More importantly, Shaw\u2019s development as a hitter suggests his best seasons may still be ahead.<\/p>\n During the early portion of the 2025 season<\/strong>, Shaw struggled at the plate.<\/p>\n His batting average hovered below .200<\/strong>, raising concerns about how quickly he could adjust to major league pitching.<\/p>\n But the second half of the season told a very different story.<\/p>\n Shaw\u2019s batting average climbed to .258<\/strong>, showing clear improvement in his approach at the plate.<\/p>\n His on base percentage improved from .276 to .317<\/strong>, indicating better plate discipline and pitch selection.<\/p>\n The most dramatic improvement, however, came in his power numbers.<\/p>\n Shaw\u2019s slugging percentage jumped from .280 to .522<\/strong>, a massive leap that highlighted his growing confidence against big league pitchers.<\/p>\n Those improvements suggest that Shaw\u2019s rookie struggles may have simply been part of the natural adjustment process.<\/p>\n Now, entering the 2026 season with experience and confidence, Shaw could be ready for a true breakout.<\/p>\n Another player with the potential to become a major offensive contributor is Mois\u00e9s Ballesteros.<\/p>\n The 22 year old hitter<\/strong> made a strong impression during his limited appearances in 2025.<\/p>\n Despite playing only 20 games<\/strong>, Ballesteros demonstrated impressive offensive potential.<\/p>\n He posted a batting average close to .300<\/strong>, while also producing a .474 slugging percentage<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Even more impressive was his ability to reach base consistently.<\/p>\n Ballesteros recorded an on base percentage approaching .400<\/strong>, a strong indicator of both patience and contact ability.<\/p>\n For a young player facing major league pitching for the first time, those numbers were extremely encouraging.<\/p>\n Ballesteros could receive significantly more playing time in 2026 due to roster changes within the Cubs lineup.<\/p>\n The departure of Kyle Tucker<\/span><\/span><\/strong> has reshaped the team\u2019s defensive alignment.<\/p>\n With Tucker no longer in the outfield, Seiya Suzuki<\/span><\/span><\/strong> is expected to move into a regular outfield role.<\/p>\n That shift leaves the designated hitter position open<\/strong>, creating more opportunities for Ballesteros to contribute offensively.<\/p>\n For a hitter with his skill set, additional plate appearances could translate into significant production.<\/p>\n Young players often improve rapidly when given consistent opportunities.<\/p>\n If Ballesteros continues developing at the plate, he could become one of the most dangerous hitters lower in the Cubs lineup.<\/p>\n For the Cubs, the key to success in 2026 may ultimately come down to lineup depth.<\/p>\n Even the most talented teams face obstacles during the long MLB season.<\/p>\n Injuries occur.<\/p>\n Players experience slumps.<\/p>\n Unexpected challenges emerge.<\/p>\n Teams that succeed are those capable of replacing production without losing momentum.<\/p>\n Shaw and Ballesteros represent exactly that type of depth.<\/p>\n Both players bring youth, versatility, and offensive upside.<\/p>\n If they continue developing as hitters, Chicago\u2019s lineup could become far more difficult for opposing pitchers to navigate.<\/p>\n Because when stars like Bregman, Hoerner, and Busch are already demanding attention, the emergence of unexpected contributors can make an offense nearly impossible to contain.<\/p>\n And if the Cubs hope to compete deep into October, players like Matt Shaw and Mois\u00e9s Ballesteros could quietly become the difference makers no one saw coming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Two Cubs Players Who Could Be Big X-Factors This Upcoming Season Every Major League Baseball season tends to revolve around star power. Fans naturally focus on the… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":161421,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-161416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nThe Importance of Hidden Contributors<\/h3>\n
\nMatt Shaw Could Thrive in a New Role<\/h2>\n
![\"2](\"https:\/\/www.chicitysports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/USATSI_27104329-scaled.jpg\")
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\nShaw\u2019s Offensive Growth<\/h3>\n
\nMois\u00e9s Ballesteros Could Benefit From More Opportunities<\/h2>\n
\nWhy His Role May Expand<\/h3>\n
\nDepth Could Define Chicago\u2019s Season<\/h2>\n
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