A Trio of Cubs Prospects Get Promoted

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Rob Wegley | Last updated 6/20/23

The Chicago Cubs' farm system never sleeps. The Cubs announced a series of promotions on Tuesday with a pair of Myrtle Beach Pelicans , Moises Ballesteros and Felix Stevens, pushing up to High-A South Bend and a South Bend switch hitter—Casey Opitz— moving up to Double-A Tennessee.

Low-A Myrtle Beach to High-A South Bend

The Moises Ballesteros and Felix Stevens promotions are both exciting, but they are exciting for different reasons.

My 14th-best prospect in the Cubs' farm system, Ballesteros, 19, is a hot name among Cubs fans who monitor the farm. A catcher by trade, Ballesteros has drastically improved in nabbing would-be base stealers in 2023. After catching just 13.3% of base runners attempting steals in 2022, he has nailed 25.3% this season. That's just about where Yan Gomes has been this year.

What Ballesteros is really hyped up for, though, is the bat. On the season with Myrtle Beach, Ballesteros is slashing .274/.394/.457 with 8 home runs, 12 doubles, and more walks (40) than strike outs (30).

That's an advanced bat for a 19-year-old and some great numbers while playing in a home ball park that doesn't particularly benefit hitters. It will be interesting to see how Ballesteros will adjust to High-A baseball, especially as a 19-year-old.

Felix Stevens being promoted is exciting on the other side of the fence. Stevens, 23, is on the older end for Low-A baseball, so it was a needed promotion. He has certainly earned it, too. Stevens is slashing .289/.380/.561 with 13 home runs, 10 doubles, and a triple.

Stevens, who primarily lines up in left field or at first base, is showcasing a ton of power this season, leading the Pelicans in long balls. Luckily, as Stevens is aging out of Low-A baseball, his game is showing he's ready to move on, too. Hopefully, he can continue his slugging and ability to get on base with South Bend against tougher competition.

High-A South Bend to Double-A Tennessee

As Ballesteros and Stevens join the South Bend Cubs, catcher/first baseman Casey Opitz is advancing from South Bend to the Double-A Tennessee Smokies. While both Ballesteros and Stevens are known for their bats, Opitz is, well, not.

On the season, Opitz's slash line is .209/.309/.309 with 2 home runs, 6 doubles, and a triple. The former 8th-round pick came into the Cubs' organization on the strength of his glove, so it remains to be seen if the offense will develop. Still, the fielding is there and ready for Double-A baseball.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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