Breakdown
Performance
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April 8, 2026
Records first home run in win
Ballesteros went 2-for-4 with a home run, an additional run scored and three total RBI in Tuesday's 9-2 win over the Rays.
Analysis
Ballesteros got on the board with his first home run of the season when he took Yoendrys Gomez deep in the ninth inning to put the icing on the cake in an easy Chicago win. The 23-year-old has seen his playing time begin to decrease as he's been in a slump with just a .208 average and .592 OPS even after Tuesday's promising performance. Ballesteros has plenty of offensive upside, and while the Cubs will likely continue to rotate players into the DH spot, the youngster should still see his fair share of opportunities, particularly if he can get on a hot streak.
April 5, 2026
Playing time trending down
Ballesteros is out of the lineup for the first game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Guardians.
Analysis
It's the third straight game on the bench for Ballesteros after he started the first five games of the season. The previous two absences came against a lefty starter, but right-hander Slade Cecconi is taking the ball for Cleveland in Sunday's opener. Alex Bregman is resting his legs as the designated hitter while Matt Shaw handles the hot corner.