The Cubs have called up top prospect Pedro Ramirez for his major league debut, per Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic. Fellow infielder Matt Shaw heads to the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 20) due to tightness in his back. ESPN’s Jesse Rogers first noted that Ramirez was in the clubhouse at Wrigley Field this morning.
Ramirez, 22, is one of the top prospects in Chicago’s system. He’s elevated his status with a brilliant start to his season in Des Moines, home of the Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate. The Venezuelan-born infielder has taken 196 turns at the plate and delivered a robust .312/.395/.547 batting line. By measure of wRC+, that’s 36% better than league average.
Ramirez has swatted nine homers and added 11 doubles and a triple. He’s 19-for-21 in stolen base attempts and has walked at a hearty 10.7% clip against a 16.3% strikeout rate that’s considerably lower than the 22.1% major league average. He’s drawn praise for above-average raw power in the past, but it hadn’t fully manifested until this season. His nine long balls are already a career-high.
A switch-hitter with above-average tools across the board, Ramirez can also play either second or third base. He won a minor league Gold Glove for his work at the latter position in 2025. This year’s terrific start has catapulted Ramirez onto several top-100 prospect rankings. He’s currently 80th at FanGraphs and 85th at both Baseball America and MLB.com.
Though Ramirez is clearly an exciting prospect, it’s fair to question how he fits into the long-term picture. Chicago has Alex Bregman, Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner all signed long-term. Michael Busch is locked in at first base and controlled through 2029. Pete Crow-Armstrong is entrenched in center field. Moises Ballesteros doesn’t even have a full year of service yet. He’s a long-term option behind the plate and/or at designated hitter.
Perhaps there’s a scenario where both Ramirez and Shaw slide into the corner outfield vacancies that’ll be created this winter when Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki become free agents. Either could settle in as a multi-position, semi-regular as well. It’s a crowded mix of talented players. Obviously, that falls into the “good problem to have” bucket, and there’s no need to answer any such questions in the immediate future, with both Ramirez and Shaw being optionable. It’s still a scenario that’ll loom in the background, and it’s easy to imagine Ramirez and/or Shaw commanding interest at the trade deadline, as other clubs take note of the Cubs’ stock of young big league-ready players.
As for Shaw, he’s cooled considerably after a hot start. His .242/.291/.400 is a near mirror image of last year’s .226/.295/.394 batting line as a rookie. Both are a couple percentage points shy of league average. Shaw has spent the season acclimating to the outfield, as the Bregman signing filled the infield and left him only sparse playing time on the dirt. He’s continued to show good contact skills but employ a swing- and chase-heavy approach that’s undercut his on-base percentage.
It’s not clear how long Shaw will be sidelined, but the backdated nature of his IL stint means he could be back as soon as next weekend. In the meantime, Ramirez can fill in around the infield as needed. The Cubs recently gave him his fifth career game in left field as well, so they could at least consider using him in the corners.
Nickel and Peso gonna handle the double plays. I hope Swanson gets the day off. If you’re not a Cubs fan. Nico Hoerner and. Dansby Swanson are known as Nickel and.Dime when they get a double play
I’m a Cub fan and have NEVER heard them referred to that way.
That’s very surprising honestly. I’m like 99% sure Boog at point referenced this. It’s on CuhsZone Twitter too. If you’re interested.
“Nico Hoerner and. Dansby Swanson are known as Nickel and.Dime when they get a double play”
No they aren’t.
Yes they are actually. This is all over Twitter and other social media platforms. I’m a little surprised this isn’t more well known.
cubs really ruined a potential star in matt shaw
They need to play him more especially with so many struggling. He can still be a star in his utility role
I hope for shaw’s sake and as a cubs fan that they trade him. Hes had tough circumstances for a guy early in his career. Send him to Miami or Minnesota where he can really develop and lets add some pitching
I hoes they don’t for the simple fact that I just order a custom jersey of his that says Shawbrist on the back. I will wear it proudly even if he is traded.
Funny how many so called Cubs prospect followers said Pedro would never make MLB as a Cub!
He’s never going to get any significant AB’s with the Cubs. Not with 85 million dollars a year in NTC contracts playing the positions he plays. Or don’t you get how that works? Or more importantly in this case, Doesn’t work?
But are they going to play him? Or are they going to put him somewhere out position and be surprised when he struggles.
2 potential debuts in the series!
Shaw has TP USA events to go cry at.
trade shaw to the phillies–altho the phils have very little to offer