The third time could be the charm for Moisés Ballesteros.
The Chicago Cubs brought up the 21-year-old catcher from Triple-A Iowa from May 13-20 and July 30 to Aug. 1, and he picked up 18 at-bats in six games but wasn’t able to make much of an impact.
But he was called back up again Tuesday and belted his first major-league triple Friday and first big-league home run Saturday in a 5-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in front of a Wrigley Field crowd of 39,712 on a day the team honored retiring great Anthony Rizzo.
In fact, the two became connected with the swing of Ballesteros’ bat in the second inning. The left-handed rookie tagged a Drew Rasmussen offering into the left-field bleachers, right where Rizzo was sitting. The ball bounced off the Gold Glover’s right hand, but he was able to get it back so he could present it to Ballesteros.
“I’m going to give him a bat in appreciation for him getting my home run ball,” Ballesteros said through an interpreter, adding he will autograph it for Rizzo.
Rizzo’s misplay of the ball made plenty of highlight shows.
“He said that’s why he is retired — he can’t catch them anymore,” left fielder Ian Happ said.
While the Cubs (84-64) have their catching situation locked in with Carson Kelly and Reese McGuire, Ballesteros has served as the designated hitter for the opening two games of the Rays series. The Cubs could use some offensive punch as they have struggled since the All-Star break.
“He’s had some good ABs and he’s hitting the ball hard,” Happ said of Ballesteros. “He’s been a good hitter at the minor-league level and now he can show it here.”
Added manager Craig Counsell: “He’s a talented, talented young hitter and he’s getting a chance to play in some big moment.
Cubs designated hitter Moisés Ballesteros high-fives teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the second inning against the Rays on Sept. 13, 2025, at Wrigley Field. It was his first major-league home run. (Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)
The Cubs bullpen was red-hot entering the day, having allowed no runs and one hit in the three previous games. But four relievers gave up two runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings Saturday, including Junior Caminero’s 43rd home run of the season in the eighth off Porter Hodge to knot the game at 4. Then Nick Fortes tagged Brad Keller with a ninth-inning solo shot that turned out to be the difference for the Rays (73-75).
Mount Carmel graduate Bob Seymour, a rookie first baseman, hit his first major-league triple and later scored for the Rays.
With the loss, the Cubs magic number to clinch a National League wild-card berth remained at seven, pending games later Saturday.
It hasn’t been a good series for teams taking an early lead. The Rays led 3-0 after one inning Friday and the Cubs came back for a 6-4 win. The Cubs had a 3-0 lead after four innings Saturday.
Starting pitcher Colin Rea looked sharp for a while, giving up one run through five innings.
Opposing batters were hitting .340 against Rea the third time through the order, and that went up Saturday. The Rays went 2-for-4 against him and scored two sixth-inning runs to tie the game before he exited.
With the Cubs facing at least six right-handed starting pitchers in a row and Kyle Tucker still on the shelf with a calf injury, the team recalled Owen Caissie from Triple-A Iowa and sent outfielder Kevin Alcantara down. But Caissie could need some time off.
He went 0-for-2 on Saturday and was replaced in the sixth inning. He made a tumbling catch in the third inning and crashed into the wall, bumping his head and causing concussion symptoms.
“He got gradually worse after running into the wall,” Counsell said. “About 45 minutes later, he couldn’t continue.”
Injury report
Catcher Miguel Amaya will get in some rehab work at Triple-A Iowa starting Tuesday.
Amaya had been on the injured list from May 25 to Aug. 12 with a left oblique strain. He was activated on Aug. 13 and suffered a left ankle sprain after singling and landing awkwardly on the first-base bag, which sent him back to the IL.
“The plan is for him to DH early in the week,” Counsell said. “He’s not 100% but we think it’s important to get him in some game action. We will get him to Iowa and see where we are at the end of the week and see if we can get him in some games catching.
“Getting him live hitting and bats against higher-level competition is mandatory if we want to consider him. He needs game action.”
Outfielder/designated hitter Seiya Suzuki, who has a 19-game on-base streak, missed his second straight game because of illness.
“He’s not doing great,” Counsell said. “Definitely his status is in question for (Sunday).”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.