Moisés Ballesteros Bio
Moisés Alejandro Ballesteros (born November 8, 2003) is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher and designated hitter who plays for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). Wears jersey No. 25, he is regarded as one of the top catching prospects to come out of Venezuela in recent years. A left-handed hitter, Ballesteros has climbed through the Cubs’ farm system since signing in 2021 and reached the majors in 2025 at the age of 21.
Early Life and Background
Ballesteros was born on November 8, 2003, and grew up in Venezuela, a country with a long tradition of producing Major League Baseball talent. From a young age, he developed his skills as a catcher, a position that demands both defensive toughness and offensive consistency. Venezuelan baseball academies and youth leagues gave him an early platform to sharpen his game and prepare for a professional career.
His progression through youth baseball in Venezuela drew the attention of international scouts, particularly those working for the Chicago Cubs. As a teenager, Ballesteros showed the bat speed and plate discipline that would later define his minor league resume. That combination of contact ability and emerging power made him a priority signing for the Cubs during the 2021 international signing period.
Path to Baseball
On January 15, 2021, Ballesteros signed with the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent, beginning his journey through the organization’s player development system. Later that year, he made his professional debut with the Dominican Summer League Cubs, getting his first taste of regular professional competition against older peers.
In 2022, he moved through two levels, appearing for the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Cubs and the Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans. By 2023, Ballesteros split the year between Myrtle Beach, the High-A South Bend Cubs, and the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, earning recognition as the Cubs’ Minor League Player of the Year. Across 117 appearances that season, he posted a .285/.375/.449 batting line with 14 home runs, 64 runs batted in, and seven stolen bases, signaling he was ready for higher challenges.
Moisés Ballesteros Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Ballesteros began his professional career in the Dominican Summer League in 2021, focusing on adjusting to the rhythm of a full professional schedule. The Dominican Summer League is a common first step for young international signings, and Ballesteros used the experience to build a foundation in catching fundamentals and offensive approach.
In 2022, he advanced to the Arizona Complex League and then to Myrtle Beach, where he faced his first full-season affiliate competition. Working with Cubs development coaches, he refined his receiving, blocking, and game-calling skills while continuing to produce at the plate. These two seasons served as his introduction to the structure of the United States-based minor leagues.
Minor League Breakthrough (2023)
The 2023 season marked Ballesteros’s clearest breakthrough. By splitting time between Myrtle Beach, South Bend, and Tennessee, he proved he could handle advancing levels while still producing offensively. His .285 average, .375 on-base percentage, and .449 slugging percentage demonstrated a balanced offensive profile unusual for a teenage catcher.
He added 14 home runs and 64 runs batted in, showing that his power was developing along with his plate discipline. The Cubs recognized his performance by naming him the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year, a significant honor that placed him firmly on the map as one of the system’s top prospects.
Double-A and Triple-A Progression (2024)
Ballesteros returned to the Double-A Tennessee Smokies to open the 2024 season and was promoted to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs during the year. That jump from Double-A to Triple-A is often the most demanding step in the minors, given the higher velocity and more advanced pitching strategies he faced.
Across 124 appearances split between Tennessee and Iowa, he hit .289/.354/.471 with 19 home runs and 78 runs batted in. His second consecutive Cubs Minor League Player of the Year award reflected his steady improvement. After the regular season, he joined the Arizona Fall League, where top prospects traditionally face off against advanced competition in a short fall schedule.
Chicago Cubs Era (2025–Present)
Ballesteros opened the 2025 season with Triple-A Iowa and got off to a strong start, batting .368 with four home runs, 18 runs batted in, and three stolen bases over his first 34 games. That performance pushed him toward the majors, and on May 13, 2025, the Cubs promoted him to the big leagues for the first time. He went 0-for-4 with four groundouts in his debut, an introduction typical for a young hitter adjusting to MLB pitching.
Three days later, on May 16, 2025, Ballesteros recorded his first MLB hit and first run batted in against Yoendrys Gómez of the Chicago White Sox. On September 13, 2025, he hit his first career home run off Tampa Bay Rays starter Drew Rasmussen, a memorable moment that came full circle when the ball landed in the same section where former Cub Anthony Rizzo was sitting. In 2026, on April 27, he hit his first career grand slam off Randy Vásquez of the San Diego Padres, underlining his continued growth as a power threat.
Notable Events and Milestones
Ballesteros’s career has been defined by a steady string of firsts. His first MLB hit, first home run, and first grand slam each arrived in games that showcased his development as both a hitter and a run producer. Earning the Cubs’ Minor League Player of the Year award in back-to-back seasons placed him in rare company within the organization.
Moisés Ballesteros Career Wins
Across his professional career, Moisés Ballesteros has collected individual awards that reflect his offensive consistency and catching skill. His two Cubs Minor League Player of the Year honors, earned in 2023 and 2024, are the most prominent accolades of his career so far.
Minor League Highlights
During the 2023 season, Ballesteros hit .285/.375/.449 with 14 home runs, 64 runs batted in, and seven stolen bases between Myrtle Beach, South Bend, and Tennessee, earning his first Minor League Player of the Year award. In 2024, he followed that up by batting .289/.354/.471 with 19 home runs and 78 runs batted in across Tennessee and Iowa, securing the same award for a second straight year.
Other Wins & Performances
Ballesteros opened 2025 at Triple-A Iowa with a .368 average, four home runs, 18 runs batted in, and three stolen bases in 34 games before his promotion. He later added his first MLB hit, first home run, and first grand slam, milestones that highlighted his offensive progression against major league pitching.
Moisés Ballesteros Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Ballesteros is Venezuelan, and his upbringing in that baseball-rich country shaped his path to the majors. While specific details about his parents and family members are not publicly confirmed, his signing as an international free agent in 2021 reflects the broader Venezuelan tradition of young players pursuing professional opportunities abroad.
Personal Life
Ballesteros focuses much of his public life on his baseball career, and there are no widely confirmed public details about a spouse or children. As a young major leaguer, he spends his time balancing the demands of a long MLB season with the adjustments of life at the highest level of professional baseball.
2025 Season Performance
Ballesteros began the 2025 season with Triple-A Iowa, where his strong start positioned him for a major league opportunity. Over 34 games with Iowa, he hit .368 with four home runs, 18 runs batted in, and three stolen bases, a performance that pushed him onto the Cubs’ big league radar.
On May 13, 2025, the Cubs promoted him to the majors, and he debuted that day with four groundouts. Three days later, he notched his first MLB hit and run batted in against the Chicago White Sox, and by September 13, he had hit his first career home run off Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen. Through this part of his career, Ballesteros has been used both behind the plate as a catcher and as a designated hitter, giving the Cubs flexibility with his spot in the lineup.
His early MLB statistics through the early portion of his tenure reflect a player still adjusting to the top level, with a batting average around .255, eight home runs, and 34 runs batted in recorded. As he continues to gain experience and refine his approach against major league pitching, Ballesteros is expected to remain a key part of the Cubs’ long-term plans at catcher and designated hitter.