Moisés

Ballesteros

Ballesteros takes a seat against Phillies lefty Jesús Luzardo with Alex Bregman getting a break from the field at DH and Matt Shaw entering the lineup at third base for his first start since April 15. The 22-year-old former top prospect is hitting a robust .378 (17-for-45) with three homers and 10 RBI in 19 games this season. He’s a potent offensive threat, but his lack of defensive versatility is going to leave him the odd-man out occasionally when the Cubs have to mix up their lineup.

Ballesteros only got two at-bats, as Matt Shaw took over at DH when the Mets went to Sean Manaea. But he made the most of them. Ballesteros continues his tear, he’s now up to a .375/.409/.625 line on the season. Nothing he’s shown so far has proven he can’t hit. It’s all a matter of playing time with a Cubs team that needs to get Shaw at-bats as well.

Ballesteros hit one of two homers for the Cubs in the third inning off Bubba Chandler — the other came from Dansby Swanson — and it was the second of the young season from the 22-year-old. He also singled, and he’s picked up multiple hits in three of his last five games. There’s a lot to like about Ballesteros in the long-term, but this version has relevancy in a host of fantasy formats, as well.

It was a much-needed strong effort from Ballesteros after going 3-for-20 with zero extra-base hits in eight games to open the season. The hard-hitting 22-year-old backstop drilled a no-doubter down the right field line against Rays reliever Yoendrys Gómez in the ninth inning after picking up an additional RBI on a sixth-inning sacrifice fly. He figures to lose some playing time at DH once Seiya Suzuki (knee) is back from the injured list.

Suzuki is dealing with a knee sprain he suffered in the World Baseball Classic, but he figures to be back in the Cubs’ lineup soon. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that he expects Suzuki’s rehab assignment to be between 3-7 days. Moises Ballesteros is just 3-for-16 to start the season with a 6/2 K/BB ratio, while Matt Shaw is 2-for-11 with just one strikeout and no walks. One of them figures to lose playing time whenever Suzuki is back; it depends on how often the Cubs want Suzuki to play the field.

We already knew that Suzuki would not be ready for Opening Day, but now the Cubs have decided to hold him out for longer. There isn’t any new information, and there was no setback or increased level of concern; the Cubs are simply being cautious with Suzuki at the start of the season. Matt Shaw figures to be the regular starter in right field until Suzuki comes back, and is worth adding in most league types given how well he played after the All-Star Break last year. How well Shaw plays and how soon Suzuki comes back could impact the playing time for Moises Ballesteros. If Shaw hits, and the Cubs want to bring Suzuki back as a designated hitter to not stress his knee, that could mean Ballesteros would lose his spot as a regular in the starting lineup.

Suzuki was diagnosed with a PCL sprain in his right knee earlier this week and the Cubs are expected to decide this weekend whether he’ll be ready for Opening Day or require a stint on the injured list. The 31-year-old corner outfielder, who belted a career-high 32 home runs and piled up 103 RBI over 151 games last year for Chicago, isn’t facing an extended absence, which makes him a strong target if he slides further than he should in fantasy drafts. It would likely be Matt Shaw getting the nod in right field to open they year if Suzuki isn’t ready for next week’s opener. Young slugger Moisés Ballesteros’ playing time would be impacted if Suzuki is limited to DH exclusively while he continues to recover.

Ballesteros’s homers were projected at 423 and 441 feet. He also walked and struck out. Ballesteros was DHing tonight for the third time this spring. He’s started six games at catcher and one at first base. It’s unclear just how much catching he’ll do in the regular season with the Cubs wanting to get both Carson Kelly, who went 3-for-4 with a homer of his own tonight, and Miguel Amaya playing time, but it sure would be nice if he could gain position eligibility there in leagues in which he’s currently only a DH.

Ballesteros seemingly has little margin for error over the next three weeks if he’s going to break camp as Chicago’s primary DH. The 22-year-old backstop has nothing left to prove at the Triple-A level and his above-average bat-to-ball skills should allow him to contribute right away in the majors. His 90th percentile exit velocity of 105.1 mph last year shows that he can do some damage from a power standpoint. He’s a name to watch closely over the next few weeks and a strong late-round target in deeper fantasy leagues.

The Michael Conforto addition gives the Cubs an intriguing alternative should Ballesteros get off to a slow start, but the 22-year-old deserves a chance to show when he can do before having to worry about playing time. The appearance today was Ballesteros’s second of the spring after his late arrival due to visa issues.