Cubs prospect Moisés Ballesteros had a heartwarming gesture for his hometown in Venezuela
Moisés Ballesteros had a breakout 2024 campaign.
The Cubs prospect is celebrating the season by giving back to the community that he came from.
Ballesteros partnered with Under Armor to give gear to young baseball players in his hometown of Los Teques, Venezuela. The catcher had gloves and shoes for players at the Guaicaipuro Prospect Academy in Guaicaipuro municipality in the northern part of Venezuela.
The 21-year-old came through that academy before he was signed as an international free agent in 2020 by the Cubs.
“I called them and wanted to give you guys a gift because you guys are working out in the same place where I came from and in the stadium where I’ve played my whole life,” Ballesteros told the kids in a video that he posted on his Instagram. “Under Armor sent some gear, gloves and other things and this is so you can have extra motivation and keep wanting to work hard and keep wanting to have things the same or even better than what I have today.”
Ballesteros hand-delivered the equipment and gave a speech to those at the academy, encouraging them to pursue their goals.
“Keep fighting for your dreams. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do things,” Ballesteros said. “I had a lot of “limits” when I was a little younger — they told me I couldn’t do it, I wouldn’t play, I wouldn’t be able to catch, a lot of things. That motivated me to be bigger and to want to have more things in my life today.”
Now, after a stellar season in the minor leagues where he hit .289 with an .826 OPS, 19 home runs, 24 doubles and 78 RBI across Double-A and Triple-A that has him on the cusp of the majors, Ballesteros wants to be an example for those in Los Teques.
Set lofty goals, work hard and anything is possible. The fresh gear will help him get there, too.
“Thanks to God, I’ve worked for that, and I have the things that I have now,” Ballesteros said. “This gift is for you. Give thanks to Under Armor and I hope you guys enjoy it and don’t let the dream die.”