Chicago Cubs sets rom-com series Nine Innings to Love
The Chicago Cubs sets rom-com series Nine Innings to Love for a Sept. 4 debut on the team's TikTok account. Cubs Productions created the 17-episode vertical show across nine innings of baseball, inspired by fans who meet at Wrigley Field—a social-first story aimed at Gen Z and millennial viewers. From stealing bases to stealing hearts, the Major League Baseball club is expanding beyond the diamond into original scripted content.
Key Takeaways
- Nine Innings to Love debuts Sept. 4 on the Chicago Cubs' TikTok account as a 17-episode vertical rom-com.
- The series follows aspiring romance writer Ava and love-shy David during one game at Wrigley Field's Budweiser Bleachers.
- Cubs Productions created and wrote the show; Coyote Sun Productions provided production services, with Adam Sobel directing.
- The project targets Gen Z and millennial viewers by blending baseball, BookTok fandom, and classic rom-com beats.
What Is Nine Innings to Love About?
Per the official synopsis reported by Variety, the series follows Ava (Veronica Garrubbo), an aspiring romance writer in a slump, and David (Sid Kutikkad), a sweet but love-shy seatmate who does not believe romance is real. After an accidental bleacher meet-cute leaves them stuck together for one Cubs game, Ava promises to help David find a summer fling inside Wrigley Field before the final out.
As Ava turns the ballpark into a rom-com training ground—complete with swings and misses, a makeover, a returning ex, and a ninth-inning chase—she starts to realize the story she has been trying to write may be happening right in front of her. Angelina Dávila, Kevin Kantor, Shelby Brown, and Cole Steeves also star.
Why Is the Chicago Cubs Getting Into Scripted Content?
The Cubs are the latest sports franchise to bet on owned media and social-first storytelling. Jen Martindale, the team's executive vice president of marketing and communications, said in a press release that "for generations, Wrigley Field has been a place where memories are made, friendships begin and love stories start."
Martindale added that the series celebrates "the magic of a summertime Cubs game" through a bite-sized episodic format built for younger audiences. By blending baseball with BookTok fandom and classic rom-com vibes, the Cubs aim to create a story that could only unfold in the Budweiser Bleachers at Wrigley Field.
When and Where Can You Watch It?
Nine Innings to Love launches Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, exclusively on the Chicago Cubs' TikTok account. The 17-part vertical series is designed for mobile viewing and the For You Page, not traditional TV or streaming platforms. The Cubs have released a trailer and key art ahead of the premiere.
For more on sports teams and streamers pushing into short-form video, see our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.
Who Created the Series Behind the Scenes?
Cubs Productions—the Chicago Cubs' in-house creative arm—created and wrote the series. Chicago-based Coyote Sun Productions provided production services, and Adam Sobel, the Cubs' director of content and production, directed.
Sobel said the inspiration came from the Wrigley Field Budweiser Bleachers' general admission seating: "You never know who might end up beside you." In Ava and David, the team wanted characters relatable to bleacher fans who come to the ballpark both for the game and for the possibility of what might happen off the field.