James Triantos took a moment before his pregame defensive work at PNC Park, standing in front of the visitors’ dugout and absorbing the scene. This wasn’t his first time at the ballpark; 13 years ago, he attended a Pirates game as a child in Virginia, a four-hour drive from Pittsburgh. Now he’s returned as a major-league player. The Cubs called up the 23-year-old from Triple A for the series opener against the Pirates while optioning outfielder Kevin Alcántara to Iowa.
“It’s really cool, I’m trying to think of the words, honestly,” Triantos shared. “The same game, but being here is an amazing opportunity. I want to compete and put my best foot forward every day. Playing the game I love and getting paid for it is all I could want.”
Triantos wasn’t expecting the call-up. At Iowa’s team hotel in Georgia, he had his phone silenced and was unwinding with video games before bed. Iowa manager Marty Pevey struggled to reach him through several calls until a hitting coach knocked on Triantos’ door, leading him to Pevey’s room to learn the news.
“I had no idea,” Triantos exclaimed. “I was super surprised and happy. I stayed up all night and couldn’t sleep.” His first call was to his parents, followed by sharing the news with B.J. Murray, his roommate for the past four years. This weekend, about 15 of Triantos’ friends and family will be at PNC Park to hopefully witness his MLB debut.
Manager Craig Counsell noted that Triantos might not get much playing time due to roster structure, similar to Alcántara’s situation. Counsell described Triantos’ year as impressive and views this call-up as a great introduction to the big leagues.
Rated as the Cubs’ No. 11 prospect by MLB.com and No. 13 by Baseball America, Triantos played five positions at Iowa. Counsell is most comfortable using him at second base, third base, and left field in the majors. Although his at-bats might be limited, gaining exposure to the big leagues is seen as beneficial.
“Everything is faster,” Counsell explained. “From game pace to decision-making, it requires preparation. Learning the team-specific language adds accountability. Triantos will learn this gradually and should benefit from the experience.”
The Cubs have strengths among position players, both in the majors and top prospects. With the team’s strong performance, evaluation of options for improvement is ongoing. The position-player prospects, including Triantos, Alcántara, and Pedro Ramírez, could become trade assets. However, Matt Shaw’s hand sprain means he won’t be activated before the trade deadline.
Triantos is focusing on making the most of his opportunity without worrying about uncertainties. “I’m just controlling what I can,” he said. “Winning a ball game each day is my aim, staying present and not getting distracted.”