Cubs 21-Year-Old Infield Prospect Is Making a Splash in 2026 Spring Training
21-year-old infielder Pedro Ramirez has been a member of the Chicago Cubs organization since 2021, when he signed with them as an international free agent from Venezuela. Ramirez has spent the last several seasons moving around through the Minor Leagues and has made a few brief MLB Spring Training appearances in 2022 and 2024, playing in one game during each stint. Now, in the 2026 preseason slate, he’s getting more playtime than ever before, appearing in 11 of the Cubs’ 15 games so far. Much to the team’s liking, the young switch-hitter has been on a hot streak this March.
Through his 11 games in Spring Training, Ramirez has had 19 at-bats and is recording an impressive batting average of .368 with an OBP of .440. He has seven hits, six RBI, and a home run while only striking out once. These aren’t simply empty statistics, either. Ramirez has had several clutch, high-impact moments, such as his early solo home run and subsequent go-ahead sacrifice fly in a 4-2 win against the Athletics on March 7th, and his lead-extending RBI single during an 8-1 rout of the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 5th. While the team’s collective performance has not necessarily been dominant throughout Spring Training, Ramirez’s immediate impact on the Cubs has been remarkable.
Ramirez’s 2026 Spring Training performance is a prime example of a young prospect patiently working his way through the ranks and making the most of his opportunity when it arrives. There’s no doubt that the Cubs organization has taken note of the unexpectedly strong performance from the 21-year-old, and it’s a fair speculation that he could be well on his way to a call-up and a real shot in the Majors. Ramirez is a utility infielder, capable of playing second base, shortstop, and third base effectively. The Cubs do have a very strong infield as is, but there are also numerous veteran players in those positions, such as 31-year-old Alex Bregman and 32-year-old Dansby Swanson, meaning it might not be too long before the organization could be looking to bring in some young talent to take the place of the aging veterans.
