WATCH: Moises Ballesteros on being called up to the Cubs |
Tony Crumpton
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- 5 hours ago
Chicago Cubs rookie catcher Moisés Ballesteros met with the media ahead of Tuesday's game against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field about his emotions of being called up to the big leagues, working with teammate Miguel Amaya and much more.
“I was playing video games when (my manager) called me,” Ballesteros said. “I felt like throwing the controller. I was in shock for five or 10 minutes.” Watch the pregame video below:
Video summary/cliff notes:
(00:00–01:07) Moisés Ballesteros shares his excitement and emotions about taking batting practice at Wrigley Field for the first time, calling it an "amazing" experience with his family present.
(01:07–01:33) His parents traveled from Venezuela to be with him, having arrived just the day before.
(01:33–02:07) He expresses nervousness but tries to stay focused, viewing MLB games as the same as any other—just with more attention to execution.
(02:07–02:36) Ballesteros emphasizes staying mentally consistent, giving his best no matter if it's a good or bad day, and keeping the same positive mindset.
(03:05–03:46) He praises fellow catcher Miguel Amaya for mentoring him, especially with mental preparation and communication with pitchers.
(04:33–04:59) When asked about his plate discipline, he credits his ability to avoid strikeouts as a gift from God rather than something he specifically trained for.
(04:59–05:21) He sees his MLB debut not as pressure but as a new experience and opportunity, aiming to help the team win and always give 100%.
(05:21–05:59) Ballesteros hopes his strong minor league performance will carry over to the majors and mentions Salvador Pérez as a role model.
(05:59–06:31) Being the youngest on his teams hasn’t affected his progress, as he has always trained and competed with older players, seeing himself as their equal.
(06:59–07:54) He's proud of becoming fluent in English through interactions with American teammates and values speaking both Spanish and English.
