Craig Counsell hinted at Ian Happ’s imminent return to the Chicago Cubs’ active roster before Monday’s night game in Miami. The manager said Happ could come off the injured list as early as Tuesday, when he’s eligible to do so.

That’s why the star left fielder’s return, which president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer announced Tuesday on 670 The Score, serves as no shock. The player he’s replacing just might.

The Cubs are sending top-tier prospect Moisés Ballesteros back to Triple-A Iowa after a May 13 promotion that was met with much fanfare.

The 21-year-old catcher had three hits and three RBI over 16 at-bats, mostly as a designated hitter. Ballesteros recorded his first major league hit in a Friday win over the White Sox, and his last game for the Cubs was a good one, as he went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the Monday loss to the Marlins.

Ballesteros slashed .368/.420.522 with four home runs and 19 RBI over 34 games with Iowa. He’s known as a quality hitter with excellent hands who regularly finds ways to get on base.

Sending Ballesteros back to the minors will allow him to have regular at-bats. Miguel Amaya and Carson Kelly give the Cubs quality offense and defense at the catcher spot, and Seiya Suzuki will move back to DH despite his excellent defense in left field with Happ out.

Happ is a three-time NL Gold Glove Award winner, so he will reclaim his defensive position. He’s also expected to reclaim the leadoff spot in the Cubs’ batting order, moving Pete Crow-Armstrong back down. The center fielder has done well as a leadoff hitter, but Happ is elite in that spot.

“I think (Crow-Armstrong) can definitely do that job, for sure. I think we have a couple of really good options,” Hoyer said on the “Mully and Haugh Show.” “I think we have a couple of really good options.

“Ian did a great job in that spot. He sees so many pitches, he gets on base. When you have him and (Kyle) Tucker hitting 1-2, there’s so much traffic on the bases for the other guys, it really helps. And then with Pete, he’s a different style of hitter. He’s dangerous right away. The way he’s hitting for power, and he’s getting on base, he’s creating havoc.

“My guess is that Ian will start leading off again, and Pete will probably go not quite as far down the order, but obviously Craig and I will talk about that.”

Crow-Armstrong generally batted seventh before Happ’s injury, but it’s uncertain if he’ll return to that slot or move up considering his top-tier production.

But with Happ back and Suzuki an every-day player, Ballesteros essentially has no spot in the Cubs’ lineup. Regular at-bats are more important for him than a big-league role as a part-time player or pinch hitter, and development is paramount at this point in his career.