Strong performances can often come from the most unlikely of places.

Who could have predicted Frank Schwindel’s run in 2021? Or Christopher Morel bursting onto the scene in 2022? Justin Steele was a surprise Cy Young candidate in 2023, and Michael Busch and Shota Imanaga were standout performers for the Cubs this past season.

Who could be that player for the Cubs in 2025?

A prime candidate could be in Triple-A: catcher Moisés Ballesteros.

The 21-year-old burst onto the scene in 2023 with success at both Single-A Myrtle Beach (142 weighted runs created plus, with 100 being league average) and High-A South Bend (128 wRC+). In 2024, he hit .299 with a 154 wRC+ at Double-A Tennessee before being promoted to Triple-A. The 44th-ranked prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline, continued to rake in Iowa, hitting .281 with a 106 wRC+ and was named the Cubs Minor League Player of the Year for the second straight season. Ballesteros hit .317 with 5 home runs in 19 games in the Arizona Fall League this year.

All that production comes as a lefty hitter, something the Cubs aren’t exactly flush with.

The offensive potential with Ballesteros is real. He’s proven the ability to hit at every level and the belief is that will continue when he reaches the major-league level. The biggest question, though, for the Venezuelan prospect is where he fits defensively.

He’s been a catcher his entire professional career, but his size (he’s 5-foot-8 and weighs 195 pounds, that height not an ideal size for first base) and defense have raised questions about his ability to stick there long-term.

Ballesteros’ catching improved in 2024, but there are still doubts both internally and league-wide about his ability to be an everyday backstop. He’s played some first base, but this past season made 70 starts at catcher, 42 at DH and just 8 at first.

“He can really hit,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said at last month’s GM Meetings in San Antonio. “He’s a really good hitter, he has power, he has balance in his swing, bat speed. He’s fun to watch hit.

“He can also catch. He’s worked really hard on his catching. His catching is not as far advanced as his hitting, but he’s worked really hard at it and really continues to improve.”

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So, where does he fit long-term?

Ultimately, that’s the biggest question the Cubs and Ballesteros have entering 2025.

Provided he stays healthy in 2025, he probably forces the Cubs hand and reaches the majors. When that happens, he could serve as a roving bat for Craig Counsell. He could work with one pitcher and function almost as a personal catcher to him and be the Cubs’ third catcher, behind Miguel Amaya and Matt Thaiss or whoever is healthy at a grueling position. He could DH on days he isn’t catching where the matchup aligns.

That would allow him to continue to develop defensively behind the plate and contribute with his best skillset — his bat — in the major leagues.

And it could be the type of player that helps contribute and can allow the Cubs to outperform expectations.