Pedro Ramirez: Everything you need to know

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).

The Cubs optioned Ramirez to Double-A Knoxville on Sunday. Ramirez, 21, 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. The switch-hitting infielder 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.