Cubs to promote Moises Ballesteros, put Ian Happ on IL

The Cubs plan to promote the organization's No. 4 prospect Moises Ballesteros to the majors, with left fielder Ian Happ headed for the 10-day injured list with an oblique injury, a source confirmed. They will also have to make a move to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.

Ballesteros, a 21-year-old catcher and designated hitter, has been an offensive force in Triple-A this year, batting .368 with a .942 OPS. Even as the Cubs got off to a hot offensive start to the season, including their two catchers, his performance kept him on manager Craig Counsell's and the front office's radar.

"Just keep playing well," Counsell said in Pittsburgh two weeks ago. "Frankly, there's not an opportunity for Moises right now. I hope there's not one for a while, to be honest with you, because that means everything here is going really well. But a player playing well, know that if something happens that certainly is somebody we have to consider."

Happ's lingering oblique discomfort was that something that cleared a path for Ballesteros' left-handed bat.

While it remains true that Miguel Amaya and Carson Kelly have the catching position well covered, Happ's injury has created a ripple effect. With him out, Seiya Suzuki has been playing left field, leaving the designated hitter spot open. Veteran right-handed hitter Justin Turner filled in over the weekend, but he's batting .155 this season.