The Chicago Cubs have created a scripted romance series called Nine Innings to Love that will launch exclusively on their TikTok channel.
That’s a very normal sentence that one would expect to read.
Yes, MLB’s Cubs are getting into the short-form vertical video game with the creation of a 17-episode series about two lovelorn Cubs fans who band together to find love at Wrigley Field, only to realize it’s been there with them all along.
JUST IN: The Chicago Cubs are releasing their own romantic comedy series on social media.
NINE INNINGS TO LOVE will follow two young fans who meet in the bleachers and spark a special connection.
The series will feature 17 short form episodes, all produced by the team’s… pic.twitter.com/pTvbjPsitR
— Marcus Leshock (@marcusleshock) August 31, 2026
Per the official synopsis, 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, over the course of one Cubs game. After an accidental bleacher meet-cute leaves them stuck together for the game, Ava makes David a promise: before the final out, she will help him find a summer fling inside Wrigley Field. But 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.”
The series was created and written by the Cubs’ creative arm, Cubs Productions, and directed by Adam Sobel.
“For generations, Wrigley Field has been a place where memories are made, friendships begin, and love stories start,” Jen Martindale, the Cubs executive vice president of marketing and communications, said in a press release. “Nine Innings to Love celebrates the magic of a summertime Cubs game through a bite-sized episodic format that’s built for Gen Z and millennial audiences. By blending a game of baseball with BookTok fandom and the vibes of a classic rom-com, we’ve created a story that could only unfold in the Budweiser Bleachers at Wrigley Field.”
Chuckle all you like, but short-form “vertical dramas” have become a surprisingly popular entertainment option for social media scrollers. Initially popularized in China, the format has taken off thanks to the short episodes, high drama, and intense cliffhangers that drive user retention.
In the post-Heated Rivalry world, the floodgates have opened for pro sports leagues and franchises hoping to attract more female and younger audiences who might not otherwise be interested in attending a game. Consider this an interesting case study on whether it can work for baseball.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.