Iowa Cubs · Designated Hitter
At 22 years old, Ballesteros is still in a developmental phase after his 2025 debut, showing significant regression in batting average (.231 in 2026 versus .298 last year) that raises concerns about his ability to sustain contact at the major league level. His power output remains modest with just six home runs over 156 at-bats, and he's contributed minimally in stolen bases, making him a risky bet for speed categories. The primary appeal lies in his youth and the possibility that 2026 represents a learning curve rather than a ceiling, though managers should temper expectations for his first full season and monitor whether he can recapture the offensive approach that earned him MiLB.com Organization All-Star honors in 2023. Given his limited RBI production and runs scored so far, Ballesteros offers more upside than immediate fantasy value, making him a bench stash candidate rather than a weekly starter in most leagues.
| Year | Team | G | AVG | HR | RBI | R | SB | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Chicago Cubs | 20 | .298 | 2 | 11 | 12 | 0 | .394 | .474 | .868 |
| 2026 | Chicago Cubs | 59 | .231 | 6 | 23 | 16 | 1 | .303 | .385 | .688 |
| Career | Totals | 79 | .249 | 8 | 34 | 28 | 1 | .328 | .408 | .736 |
Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand
| Year | Team | G | AVG | HR | RBI | R | SB | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | DSL Cubs Red | 48 | .266 | 3 | 25 | 22 | 6 | .396 | .390 | .786 |
| 2022 | 2 teams▼ | 63 | .257 | 10 | 33 | 29 | 0 | .351 | .461 | .812 |
| 2023 | 3 teams▼ | 117 | .285 | 14 | 64 | 64 | 7 | .374 | .449 | .823 |
| 2024 | 2 teams▼ | 124 | .289 | 19 | 78 | 57 | 1 | .354 | .471 | .825 |
| 2025 | Iowa Cubs | 114 | .316 | 13 | 76 | 62 | 5 | .385 | .473 | .858 |
| 2026 | Iowa Cubs | 14 | .229 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 0 | .355 | .292 | .647 |
| Career | Totals | 480 | .287 | 59 | 286 | 240 | 19 | .371 | .453 | .824 |
Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand