A 17-year-old honor-roll student, Pedro Ramirez of Tilden High School, was killed Tuesday morning in a shooting on South Throop Street in the Back of the Yards; a person of interest is in custody and two adults were wounded as police pursued suspects, with a GoFundMe launched for Ramirez’s family.
Bleacher Nation reports the Cubs will shake up today’s lineup at Wrigley Field against the Astros: Pedro Ramirez makes his starting debut at second base, Dansby Swanson and Ian Happ sit, Nico Hoerner moves into the two-hole, Pete Crow-Armstrong leads off, and Ramirez bats ninth, with Conforto in left, Ballesteros as DH, and Carson Kelly catching.
The Cubs’ offense has been stuck in a funk at Wrigley Field, and manager Craig Counsell says lineup changes are coming. Top prospects Kevin Alcantara and Pedro Ramirez have recently been called up (with PCA, Pete Crow-Armstrong, possibly leading off in some lineups), and a day off for Ian Happ could be in play as part of the adjustments. While the shakeup aims to spark momentum, it’s unlikely to solve all issues immediately.
The Cubs promoted top prospect Pedro Ramirez for his MLB debut while Matt Shaw was placed on the 10-day injured list with back tightness (retroactive to May 20). Ramirez, 22, is tearing through Triple-A with a .312/.395/.547 line and can handle second or third base, offering the Cubs infield flexibility as they navigate a crowded roster and Shaw’s absence could provide opportunities for the rookie.
Cubs 22-year-old prospect Pedro Ramirez has emerged as a dramatically different hitter, combining elite zone contact with surprising power in the minors. After a standout Iowa Cubs game that included a grand slam and an 8-RBI effort, he’s posted a .333/.396/.678 line with a 170 wRC+ through about 96 plate appearances, showing minimal whiffs and a strong 90th-percentile exit velocity. Baseball America highlighted the unusual combination of contact quality and power he’s displaying, suggesting he could become one of baseball’s top prospects if this pace holds. Ramirez is currently blocked at the MLB level by established Cubs infielders, so a big league promotion this year seems unlikely, but the transformation could accelerate his ascent in the Cubs’ system.