Chicago Cubs Prospect Profile: Pedro Ramirez |
As we continue to inch closer to the Cubs' top overall prospect, who by now everyone should know his name, we have reached the final player before the top 10. This area of the Cubs organization starts to stand out more than the rest, as the top of their farm system is loaded with talent.
Whether it be the big bats, power arms, or just the quality of talent across the board, the Cubs' top 10 is as deep and skilled as anyone, with several of their top 10 guys landing in the top 100. Checking in at No. 11 on our list is a name that not many people have discussed in recent seasons, but he could be a name that is either discussed on the trade market or may move up in the system based on how the trade market goes. Pedro Ramirez is his name, and after putting together another strong season in 2024, he has started to get more attention in the prospect ranks. Signed during the International free agent period in 2021, Ramirez came to the Cubs as a second baseman, but he has also seen plenty of time at third base as the Cubs have done what they needed to get him on the field. The Venezuelan native trained with fellow Cubs prospect Moises Ballesteros, and the Cubs did plenty of scouting for both of them during that time. Considering Ballesteros received over a million dollars for his contract, getting Ramirez for 75K was a bargain, and the Cubs are very happy to have him. Ramirez was not only one of the rare prospects to make his professional debut the same season he was signed, but he had instant success. He hit .359 across 50 games during his rookie season, connecting for one homer and driving in 30. That was a sign of what was to come, as Ramirez hasn't stopped hitting since joining the Cubs. Following his strong rookie showing, Ramirez was again part of the DSL Cubs in 2022 before moving to the States to finish the season with an ACL. In 53 games that season, Ramirez's production continued to be strong, as he hit .316, with both teams delivering four homers. It was in 2023 that Ramirez showed what he could do, as that was his best overall season to date. Playing for the Pelicans that season, Ramirez played in 104 games. Despite his average dipping to .266 that season, he came away with a career-high eight homers and 54 RBIs. He also took a career-high 49 walks and stole 17 bases as steals became a bigger part of his game. 2024 saw Ramirez receive another promotion within the Cubs as he moved from Myrtle Beach to South Bend. He expected to go through some struggles, but those struggles were minimal at best as his average got back to .284 across a career-best 116 games. His four homers and 48 RBIs were a bit down from a production side, but production isn't a big part of his game as Ramirez is a hitter first. Still just 20 years old, Ramirez has a long way to go in development, but he has already proven to be one of the better pure hitters in this organization. The switch hitter offers a quick and compact stroke from both sides of the plate, and his advanced plate discipline is a big reason he has been able to hit since day one. He is not much of a power hitter, but Ramirez is a line-drive hitter who patiently works the count to get a pitch to his liking. Some feel he does have the potential to be a 15-homer guy once he physically matures, but hitting for power isn't a part of his game. He cares more about putting the ball in play to get on base. While his offensive skill set is solid but primarily limited, the other aspects of his game continue to improve, especially his baserunning. Although not a guy with elite speed, Ramirez still has the plus speed to make things happen, and he has done so by picking up 31 stolen bases in the past two seasons. His quick instincts and wide range defensively make him an ideal candidate to play third, but an average throwing arm has some scouts concerned that he may be limited to second base. Look for him to start physically maturing once he gets to AA, which should happen at some point this season. Once that happens, you will begin to hear his name come in far more trade conversations, as this is one of those prospects that has been overlooked for far too long.
