Fresh off Minor League Gold Glove, Ramirez eyes Major League role

MESA, Ariz. -- Pedro Ramirez has ice in his veins at the hot corner.

It didn’t matter that his 2025 season with the Double-A Knoxville Smokies was his first at third base, as Ramirez settled into the role quite comfortably. He committed four errors in 68 games, including 66 starts, while spending another 59 at second (57 starts).

He committed just eight total errors all season, regardless of position.

That performance earned Ramirez, the Cubs’ No. 7 prospect following the 2025 season, a 2025 MiLB Gold Glove Award at third base and a planned recognition at the Cubs’ next home Spring Training game on Tuesday vs. Team Italy.

“I feel super happy to be able to get the recognition, especially because I'm here in Arizona, in front of Cubs fans,” Ramirez said through an interpreter. “So I'm really happy and grateful I have received that recognition.”

The 21-year-old was added to the Cubs’ 40-man roster in November, and manager Craig Counsell said the team is counting on his versatility in the coming years.

“I think we're trying to expand a little bit of his value defensively, because I think as you break into the big leagues, sometimes you're not just going to be handed a position,” Counsell said. “You're probably going to have to move around, and where the opportunity happens is where you get to play, but the fact that he's got that attached to him means he should be able to handle new positions.”

Ramirez signed as an international free agent with the Cubs in 2021 and has steadily climbed the ranks since. He spent full seasons with both Single-A Myrtle Beach and High-A South Bend before playing for Knoxville in 2025.

Defense was not his only strong suit, either, as he hit .280 with 73 RBIs in Knoxville, good for second in the Southern League, behind only fellow Cubs prospect BJ Murray (89). Ramirez’s 70 runs scored were tied for fourth in the league.

He has hit .291 with 220 RBIs, 249 runs scored and a .774 OPS in his Minor League career.

It would be fair to say Ramirez’s offensive production complemented his stellar defensive play, though in reality, it may just be the other way around.

“They told me that winning a Gold Glove in the Minor Leagues was difficult, so I wanted to take that challenge, and I wanted to show that I could play that position,” he said. “I put in the work, and I just wanted to challenge myself every single day.

“Then, I went out there to work and just showcase that.”

Ramirez is hitting .364 with two RBIs and three walks in eight games this spring, and he said he’s trying to be a sponge, soaking up the vast Major League experience around him.

He credited second baseman Nico Hoerner, shortstop Dansby Swanson and third baseman Alex Bregman all with taking time to help him learn what it takes to become an everyday player.

“I have learned a lot from them being in this clubhouse, but, you know, seeing the way that they go about it has really helped me out,” Ramirez said. “I feel like I've learned a lot from them and from everybody here in the clubhouse.”

If he continues to produce at the plate while flashing leather on the field, his dream of being a regular in the clubhouse may be just on the horizon.

It’s up to him to make his case.

“Pedro has certainly shown early in his career that he can handle himself defensively,” Counsell said. “We told him, ‘Your job is to make us say, after this camp, yeah, when something happens, we can call on you.'”