Pedro Ramirez, 22, was called up to make his major league debut on May 22, 2026, the Chicago Cubs announced as they placed Matt Shaw on the 10-day injured list retroactive to May 20 because of tightness in his back. 's Jesse Rogers first noted Ramirez was in the clubhouse at Wrigley Field that morning.
Ramirez arrives in Chicago after a hot start at Triple-A Des Moines, where he hit.312/.395/.547 across 196 plate appearances. He produced nine home runs, 11 doubles and one triple while swiping 19 bases in 21 attempts. His 10.7% walk rate and 16.3% strikeout rate came against a 22.1% major league average strikeout rate, and his overall performance at Des Moines measured roughly 36% better than league average.
The 22-year-old has split time between second base and third base in the minors and won a minor league Gold Glove at third base in 2025. The Cubs have also given Ramirez his fifth career game in left field in recent weeks, a sign the organization is testing his versatility at the big-league level.
Shaw, who was hitting.242/.291/.400 after a hot start this season, was moved to the injured list with the team backdating the stint to May 20. That backdate means Shaw could be eligible to return as soon as next weekend, limiting the window Ramirez has to make an immediate impression.
Ramirez enters a crowded roster picture. He is ranked 80th by FanGraphs and 85th by both Baseball America and MLB.com, and the club already carries Alex Bregman, Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner on long-term deals. Michael Busch is controlled through 2029 at first base, Pete Crow-Armstrong is entrenched in center field, and Moises Ballesteros looms as a long-term option behind the plate or as a designated hitter. The organization described Ramirez as one of the top prospects in its system, and his Triple-A surge improved his standing.
The tension is plain: Ramirez is arriving with clear momentum, but the playing-time map is crowded and Shaw’s IL stint is short. The club has been giving Ramirez spot work in left field and showing him across the infield, but the payroll and contract commitments inside the infield limit quick openings there. Ramirez’s prospect rankings and his defensive pedigree — including a 2025 minor league Gold Glove at third — argue he deserves a look; the reality of roster construction means that look could be measured in days, not months.
What matters now is immediate production. With Shaw eligible to rejoin the roster next weekend, Ramirez’s first handful of games will determine whether the Cubs view him as a short-term plug or the start of a longer roster change. For fans tracking the cubs score and the lineup card, Ramirez’s bat, his on-base skills and his defensive flexibility are the variables that will decide if this call-up becomes the start of a sustained big-league run.
