Moisés Ballesteros, 22, makes Chicago Cubs opening-day roster: ‘He has earned that,’ Craig Counsell says

MESA, Ariz. — Moisés Ballesteros has hit his way onto the Chicago Cubs opening-day roster. Manager Craig Counsell summoned Ballesteros to his office Friday afternoon to deliver the good news. Ballesteros, who turned 22 in November, impressed the Cubs during his brief time in the majors last year, turning his 20 games into a spot on their two postseason rosters as Counsell’s go-to left-handed pinch hitter. Counsell expects Ballesteros to be the designated hitter “a pretty significant amount” to start the season. “He has earned that, is the best way to say it,” Counsell said. “When you have a player that has options, and it’s a young player you’ve got to kind of beat down the door to get yourself in a lineup. And so Moisés has earned that opportunity, and you’ve almost got to do a little more to get that opportunity, and I think he has. He’s shown us through a stint last year, through what he’s continued to do this spring, that he deserves at-bats, and he’s going to get some.” If Ballesteros is in Thursday’s opening-day lineup against the Washington Nationals and right-handed starter Cade Cavalli, he would become the youngest player in franchise history to DH in the season opener, according to team historian Ed Hartig. In 11 games this spring entering Friday, Ballesteros was 11-for-31 (.355) with two doubles, two home runs, eight RBIs, a .394 on-base percentage and 1.007 OPS. The Cubs still have a few 26-man roster decisions they must make before Thursday, predominately with their bench, which could be affected by right fielder Seiya Suzuki’s status for the start of the season. A decision is expected by the end of the weekend regarding Suzuki’s availability and if he will need to go on the injured list because of a sprained PCL in his right knee. The final bullpen spot is also up for grabs. The Cubs optioned right-handed relievers Ethan Roberts and Gavin Hollowell to Triple-A Iowa on Friday. As the pitching staff starts to come together, notably Counsell confirmed Ben Brown’s one-inning outing Wednesday was to prepare the right-hander for the possibility of being used out of the bullpen to start the season.