What will be the long-term position for Moisés Ballesteros? The 22-year-old Venezuelan baseball prospect has been making waves in the MLB with his exceptional hitting skills. Since signing for $1.2 million in 2021, Ballesteros has demonstrated elite bat-to-ball control, thriving at every level of the game. His OPS of at least .810 from Rookie ball to Triple-A is a testament to his prowess. However, the question remains: where will he play in the long run? While his bat is undoubtedly a key asset for the Cubs in 2026 and beyond, his glove is a concern. Ballesteros is a below-average defender, and his position behind the plate may not be sustainable without more practice. His size and build, combined with limited quickness, make him a subpar framer and blocker. This is further evidenced by his caught-stealing rate, which is among the lowest among Major League catchers. Despite this, Ballesteros' numbers under the hood are promising. His average pop time to second base and arm speed are comparable to top catchers in the league. However, his substandard receiving tends to hold him back. To improve, he needs to make more frequent competitive throws and/or enhance his framing and blocking skills. Ballesteros has the potential to be an everyday catcher, but if he can't stick behind the plate, his only other defensive option is first base. However, his size and build make him a questionable fit for that position as well. The Cubs are in a conundrum, as Ballesteros needs reps at catcher to improve, but it's hard to justify playing him every day at catcher on a contending team. His bat is too good to waste away at Triple-A, and the need for left-handed bats in the Majors makes him a valuable asset. Perhaps if he were on a rebuilding team, he would get the runway to develop into a defender who could catch 100 games per year. But in this situation, he seems more likely to spend the majority of his time as a sweet-swinging, 20-homer-per-year DH who occasionally moonlights at catcher and first. So, what's the solution? The Cubs must decide whether to invest in his development as a catcher or explore other options for his long-term position.
