Ramirez is hitting .300 with three home runs, three steals and a 13.6 percent strikeout rate in 10 games for Triple-A Iowa.
The athletic switch hitter has always made contact at a strong clip and has typically been better than league average while being a little young for his levels, but this is a notable power breakout in the early going. Ramirez hit eight home runs in 129 games last year while logging a 49 percent groundball rate, and while he's hitting for more power this year, his 51.5 percent groundball rate is still too high. The versatile infielder has split time between third base (six starts) and second base (three starts).
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Cubs' Pedro Ramirez: Ticketed for Double-A
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Ramirez to Double-A Knoxville on Sunday.
The 21-year-old infielder was added to the Cubs' 40-man roster over the winter but will need more seasoning in the upper levels of the minors before receiving his first taste of the big leagues. Ramirez will return to Knoxville for a second straight season after slashing .280/.346/.386 with eight home runs and 28 stolen bases across 563 plate appearances in the Southern League in 2025.
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Cubs' Pedro Ramirez: Protected from Rule 5 Draft
Rotowire
The Cubs selected Ramirez's contract from Double-A Knoxville on Tuesday.
Ramirez is unlikely to compete for a big-league job in spring training, given that he has never played at Triple-A. However, the 21-year-old switch hitter is a good athlete capable of playing multiple infield positions. Ramirez slashed .280/.346/.386 with eight home runs, 28 steals and a 15.1 percent strikeout rate in 129 games at Double-A in 2025, good for a 118 wRC+.
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Cubs' Pedro Ramirez: Strong showing at Double-A
Rotowire
Ramirez is hitting .278 with eight home runs, 28 steals and a 15.2 percent strikeout rate in 127 games for Double-A Knoxville.
The switch-hitting infielder has split the year between second and third base for the Smokies, and while he hasn't hit for much power (.108 ISO, .386 SLG), Ramirez has still been 17 percent better than the average Southern League hitter while being the fifth-youngest qualified hitter in the league. He cut his groundball rate from 53.8 percent at High-A last year to 48.9 percent this year at Double-A, but that rate is still too high if Ramirez is to get the most out of his raw power. Ramirez may begin his big-league career as a reserve infielder, but his speed and contact skill make him worth tracking in dynasty leagues.
