The Chicago Cubs entered the season with high hopes, confident that their depth—both in the Major Leagues and among their top prospects—would allow them to navigate the inevitable bumps in the road while keeping postseason aspirations alive. But with recent developments, that depth is being put to the test, particularly for the National League Central leaders.
Following a solid 5-2 victory over the Miami Marlins, reports indicate that left fielder Ian Happ could be placed on the 10-day injured list due to an oblique injury. In a promising twist, catching prospect Moisés Ballesteros, ranked as the Cubs’ No. 4 prospect and No. 61 overall, is set to make the leap from Triple-A Iowa to join the big league roster.
While the Cubs haven’t officially confirmed this move, it’s noteworthy that it follows the promotion of Cade Horton, the organization’s second-ranked pitching prospect, who was recently called up to bolster the pitching staff after Shota Imanaga landed on the 15-day IL. This means another roster move will be needed to make room for Ballesteros on the 40-man roster.
Before Monday’s game, Cubs manager Craig Counsell addressed the situation surrounding Happ, a three-time Gold Glove winner. He noted that Happ was planning to “ramp up” his pregame work to evaluate the discomfort he was experiencing after injuring himself on a swing during his first at-bat against the Mets. The conservative approach, as Counsell explained, aims to determine the severity of Happ’s condition without risking further injury.
“We’re going to be cautious about this, obviously,” Counsell remarked. “He’s working to figure out what this is—whether it’s nothing or something significant. So, we gave him two days with limited activity and we’ll see how he feels moving forward.”
Despite missing the last three games, Happ has been a key figure for the Cubs this season, having occupied the leadoff position with a solid slash line of .269/.364/.381 over 39 games. Together with three home runs, nine doubles, and 19 RBIs, he also boasts an impressive 24 walks and has scored 29 runs—all contributions that are difficult to replace.
In Happ’s absence, Counsell has turned to center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong to take over the leadoff role, while Seiya Suzuki transitions back to the outfield after primarily serving as the designated hitter. With the anticipated addition of Ballesteros, Counsell will have more flexibility in managing the DH spot as players rotate through the lineup.
The catching duo of Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya has been a bright spot for the Cubs this season, both performing well as they share the duties behind the plate. On Monday, the two were in the lineup, with Amaya catching and Kelly taking his turn as the designated hitter.
Ballesteros, making his case for a call-up, has been tearing it up at Triple-A Iowa with a slash line of .368/.420/.522 over 34 games, totaling four home runs, seven doubles, and 18 RBIs. His 19 runs scored and positive walk-to-strikeout ratio (12 walks to 16 strikeouts) only add to his allure as a rising talent. The young prospect has also displayed versatility, splitting his time effectively between catching and DH, along with even logging an appearance at first base.
“He’s a joy to watch at the plate,” said Cubs director of player development Jason Kanzler. “Even if we can’t precisely define what ‘hitter-ish’ means, he definitely embodies that quality. It’s exciting to see a player like him develop.”
Kanzler also emphasized Ballesteros’s relative youth at just 21 years old.
“It’s impressive, remembering his age,” Kanzler acknowledged. “He’s navigating through the Minor Leagues and establishing himself with his hitting, but let’s not overlook the significant strides he’s making in his catching development.”
As the Cubs manage these roster changes, the coming days will be crucial in determining just how deep their bench is and whether it can maintain their strong position in the NL Central race. With talent like Ballesteros on the way up, fans have a reason to stay optimistic.
