Pedro Ramírez's Rollercoaster Rookie Season With Cubs Was An Overarching Success

[Sam Caulder]

Image courtesy of David Banks-Imagn Images

The Chicago Cubs experienced plenty of roster movement throughout the 2026 season, whether it was through trades, injuries, or major-league promotions. One of those call-ups was infielder Pedro Ramirez, who quickly went from a promising prospect to a regular contributor at the big-league level.

Ramírez entered the season ranked as North Side Baseball's No. 7 prospect, but his strong start to the year quickly propelled him up to No. 3. His performance earned him a call-up to the majors in late May, giving him an opportunity to show what he could do against the highest level of pitching.

He appeared in 80 games between his promotion and the end of the regular season, hitting .261 with a .321 on-base percentage and a .723 OPS. He also finished with a 100 wRC+, meaning he was essentially the blueprint for a league-average hitter when accounting for park and league factors. For a 22-year-old making his first extended appearance in the majors, that's a pretty solid starting point. However, Ramírez's rookie campaign was far from a linear progression, and there were some noticeable ups and downs along the way.

After posting an 84 wRC+ in June, he broke out in July with a 169 mark, showcasing what he’s capable of when things are clicking. He followed that up with a slightly above-average month in August before struggling considerably in September. That type of inconsistency isn't particularly surprising for a young player adjusting to major-league pitching. There are going to be stretches where things click and others where the game speeds up a little, especially as the league gets more tape and begins to adjust to a young hitter. As such, when we take a step back and examine Ramírez's underlying numbers over the course of the season, they look like those of a young player who is still finding his footing.

His expected batting average sat at just .242, while his expected slugging percentage was .342, roughly 60 points below his actual mark. Both his average exit velocity and hard-hit rate also finished slightly below league average, which isn't particularly surprising given that power has never been the primary selling point of his offensive profile.

There’s certainly room for improvement in that department, but those numbers shouldn't overshadow what Ramírez accomplished during his first taste of the majors. For starters, he proved to be a quality defender at both second and third base. With Nico Hoerner and Alex Bregman occupying those positions for much of the season, Ramírez wasn't always able to find consistent playing time at either spot. Still, he showed that he could move around the infield and provide value where the Cubs needed him.

Third base might not be his ideal long-term home, as his arm strength could limit his ability to handle the position every day. Second base appears to be the more likely landing spot moving forward, but his versatility is certainly an asset. Having a young infielder who can handle multiple positions gives Craig Counsell some additional flexibility when putting together his lineup and managing injuries throughout a long season. And while Ramírez still has some work to do offensively, the bat-to-ball skills that helped make him such a highly regarded prospect did translate to the major leagues.

His in-zone contact rate sat at 90% and he avoided excessive whiffs and strikeouts, which is an important foundation for a hitter who doesn't necessarily need to rely on home runs to generate offensive value. Ramírez's chase rate did climb a fair amount after moving from Triple-A to the majors, however. Pitch recognition and patience will be key areas of development for him moving forward, since someone with meager bat speed and barrel rates won't be doing much damage on pitches outside the zone.

One other development worth monitoring is how frequently he put the ball in the air during his rookie season. His fly-ball rate reached 39%, a notable increase from the 25% to 30% range he posted throughout the previous couple of seasons in the minors. That doesn't necessarily mean he's going to develop into a power hitter overnight, but it's an interesting change in his batted-ball profile. As he continues to get bigger and stronger, that increased fly ball rate could eventually translate into more extra-base hits and greater offensive production. And there's already some evidence that he can do damage in that area—Ramírez was routinely producing extra-base hits during his time with Triple-A Iowa, averaging roughly one every other game this season.

Add it all up, and I think it's hard to consider Ramírez's first major-league season as anything other than a success. His overall numbers weren't spectacular, and the second half of the year showed that he still has plenty to learn. But he also demonstrated that he can hold his own against big-league pitching while providing the Cubs with a capable defender who can handle multiple infield positions.

At just 22 years old, Ramírez has plenty of time to make the necessary adjustments. If his rookie season is any indication, the Cubs have unearthed another valuable young piece who can contribute to their lineup for years to come.

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