A top-five prospect for the Chicago Cubs is developing way ahead of schedule.
The Cubs have witnessed a pair of excellent, somewhat unforeseen rookie seasons in 2024 from Michael Busch and Shōta Imanaga. Could next year bring Chicago another rookie surprise?
Sources aplenty are all abuzz about the Cubs' 20-year-old catcher prospect Moises Ballesteros, who packs a boatload of star power into his five-foot-seven frame.
In an article published on Saturday entitled, “Roman Anthony and MLB's 25 Best Prospects 20 Years Old or Younger in 2024”, Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter ranked Ballesteros at No. 17 and discussed his imminent promotion to the big leagues.
"Miles ahead of the developmental curve for a catcher, Ballesteros is already playing at the Triple-A level and knocking on the door for his first taste of the big leagues," Reuter said. "His unassuming 5'7", 215-pound frame belies his elite offensive skills, and he is hitting .280/.347/.474 with 18 doubles, 17 home runs and 63 RBI in 101 games in the upper levels of the minors. He has raised his stock as much as any prospect on this list in 2024."
The Cubs have had a void in plate production from the catcher position this season, which makes a Ballesteros call-up all the more pertinent.
Wrigley Field needs all the excitement it can get as Chicago tries to rise out of the sludge of Year One of the Craig Counsell era going into 2025.
Promoting Ballesteros sooner rather than later would be a helpful injection for the franchise.
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