Well, well, well, the biggest development at Triple-A in 2026 just got a bit more interesting. Defensive wizard Pedro Ramirez has transformed his profile through the first seven weeks of the season by showing a real leap at the plate. The switch-hitting infielder has already set a new career high in home runs after 40 games with the Iowa Cubs, and now Ramirez is expanding his versatility by playing in the outfield.
Last week, Ramirez was seen getting work in the outfield, and on Thursday night, he made his first start in left field at Triple-A. The 22-year-old previously made four starts in the outfield throughout his minor league career, all of which came last year at High-A Ball with the South Bend Cubs.
Ramirez remained hot at the plate, going 4-for-5 against the Milwaukee Brewers Triple-A squad. Ramirez has a .951 OPS in 182 plate appearances this season with nine home runs, 39 RBI, 33 R, while also swiping 16 bases in 18 attempts. He’s batting .317, with a 16.5 K% and 9.3 BB%.
At the very least, Ramirez is increasing his value, giving the organization another potential option to replace Ian Happ, who does not have an extension and is slated to become a free agent following the 2026 season. Seiya Suzuki, the team’s primary right fielder, is also a free agent after this year.
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It’s got some analysts thinking Ramirez could reach the point where he could be Happ’s replacement.
That second part definitely has sarcasm written all over it, as the Cubs have traded away some notable prospects in recent years for relief pitching. However, none of those guys were as established as Ramirez currently is, thanks to his giant leap in offensive performance.
Not saying that the Cubs view Ramirez as untouchable, but if he does become a trade candidate, which could certainly happen, you would certainly think the organization views him more highly than to simply ship him out for a middle reliever.
The Cubs added Ramirez to their 40-man roster following the 2025 season, so they definitely saw potential value in him despite an up-and-down year on offense in Double-A. Yet, Ramirez did finish strong, posting a .915 OPS in the last 19 games of the season. Now, Ramirez is winning monthly awards in Triple-A.
One of the biggest stories in the Cubs’ farm system in 2026, Ramirez is creating more avenues to find a path in MLB, whether it’s in Chicago or elsewhere.
