BALLESTEROS AND BIRDSELL NAMED CUBS MINOR LEAGUE PLAYER AND PITCHER OF THE YEAR
The Chicago Cubs announced today that catcher Moises Ballesteros was named the Buck O’Neil Cubs Minor League Player of the Year and Brandon Birdsell the Vedie Himsl Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year. It marks the second time Ballesteros has won the award after having done so in 2023.
The Chicago Cubs announced today that catcher Moises Ballesteros was named the Buck O’Neil Cubs Minor League Player of the Year and Brandon Birdsell the Vedie Himsl Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
It marks the second time Ballesteros has won the award after having done so in 2023. He batted .289 (131-for-454) with 19 home runs and 78 RBI in 124 games between Double-A Tennessee and Iowa. The Venezuela native joined Iowa on June 18 and hit .281 (73-for-260) with 10 home runs, 35 RBI and was one of just nine position players to play in the International League this season aged 20 or younger.
Birdsell made 27 appearances (26 starts) between Tennessee and Iowa this season and went 8-9 with a 3.91 ERA (59 ER in 135.2 IP) and 134 strikeouts versus 31 walks. The 24-year-old made his first outing with the I-Cubs on July 10 and posted a 4-5 record with a 4.26 ERA (29 ER in 61.1 IP). From July 10 through the rest of the season, Birdsell tied for the International League lead with 69 strikeouts and ranked eighth in innings pitched.