The Cubs have found expanding star power with Crow-Armstrong

Outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong had played in all of the Chicago Cubs’ 52 games through Saturday, producing 14 homers, 46 RBIs, 40 runs scored and an .893 on-base plus slugging percentage, all while lighting up the defensive metrics. (Instagram via bleachernation)

By Patrick Mooney / The Athletic

As Chicago Cubs officials contemplated the idea of star power — how to acquire it, develop it and maximize it — they also held out hope for an internal solution. In breaking up the 2016 World Series team, someone had to fill the void at Wrigley Field, capture the imagination of fans and produce monster seven WAR seasons. Though far from a guaranteed outcome, one hypothetical centered on: What if everything clicked for Pete Crow-Armstrong?

You are looking at it right now. The Cubs in first place in the National League Central. Crow-Armstrong making leaping catches at the ivy and hitting home runs into the bleachers. Fans chanting, “P-C-A,” and roaring when he drives the ball into the right-field corner, knowing that is an easy triple with his speed. The All-Star Game buzz and MVP chatter are already picking up.

“That’s irrelevant to what I do on a daily basis,” Crow-Armstrong said. “Simple as that.”

This timeline would have sounded aggressive, if not unrealistic, during the early stages of this rebuild. Just last month, Crow-Armstrong was stuck on zero home runs through 73 plate appearances, with a batting average below .200. Negotiations around a long-term contract extension had fizzled.

Though Crow-Armstrong’s floor appeared secure as a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder, his career ceiling was undefined. He looked overmatched as a September call-up in 2023, and even a good second half to his rookie season left him as a below-average major league hitter. Perhaps this would be a year with some more growing pains, which would be fine if Kyle Tucker carried the Cubs back into the playoffs.

But then Crow-Armstrong blasted two home runs April 13 at Dodger Stadium. He even blew a kiss to his parents behind home plate, which became a signature moment of ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” broadcast and the start of his unreal hot streak.

“Every time he comes up to the plate,” Cubs catcher Carson Kelly said, “you know something awesome might happen.”

It happened again during Saturday afternoon’s 7-3 win over the Chicago White Sox at the Friendly Confines, where a crowd of 40,134 watched Crow-Armstrong line a two-run single into center field, steal his 14th base and hustle for a triple. Through Saturday he had played in all of the club’s 52 games, producing 14 homers, 46 RBIs, 40 runs scored and an .893 on-base plus slugging percentage, all while lighting up the defensive metrics.

This is why Cubs’ president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, likes to call it a young man’s game. Entering last Thursday, the players who had generated the highest Wins Above Replacement this season, according to FanGraphs, were Aaron Judge (4.3) and Crow-Armstrong (2.9), followed by five players at 2.8: Corbin Carroll, Cal Raleigh, Geraldo Perdomo, Bobby Witt Jr. and Shohei Ohtani.

“Pete’s young,” manager Craig Counsell said. “When you have players that are this young, they come to the big leagues, and you think, ‘This is what they are.’ And he’s 23. Most guys haven’t made their debut yet. So that’s the beauty of getting to the big leagues at that age.

“It means you’ve succeeded against older players and in player development in the minor leagues. But it also means you’re just new to this. He’s a talented kid. He was a first-round pick for a reason. It’s fun watching what’s possible with players like this.”

Growing up in Southern California, Crow-Armstrong was well known in baseball circles at an early age. He played for USA Baseball at multiple levels of international competition, beginning with the 12-and-under national team. He graduated from Harvard-Westlake School, which had produced first-round picks Max Fried, Lucas Giolito and Jack Flaherty.

The Cubs passed on Crow-Armstrong in the 2020 MLB draft, but they got a second chance to acquire him in the Javier Báez deal with the New York Mets at the 2021 trade deadline, a franchise-altering day in so many ways.

“I always knew he was going to be a star,” said pitcher Cade Horton, the No. 7 pick in the 2022 draft, who remembered watching Crow-Armstrong play in high school. “But this year, he’s really found a groove, and it’s awesome to watch. I love playing with guys like that, guys that just want to win and will do anything to help their team.

“He works hard. He knows what he’s good at. He’s going to cause chaos on the bases. He’s going to hit home runs. He’s going to make plays in center. He’s got all the tools.”

The Cubs have needed Crow-Armstrong’s MVP-level stretch while some key players were out. Their leadoff man, Ian Happ, returned last Tuesday, but All-Star pitcher Shota Imanaga is not expected back until June, and Justin Steele, a 2023 All-Star, is out for the season. After a great start, Tucker had cooled off a bit, but was 6 for 8 with two home runs in wins against the Miami Marlins last Tuesday and Wednesday. Ryan Pressly lost his job as the closer. Amid those issues, the record is 30-20, and the hardest part of the schedule was front-loaded.

As flashy as Crow-Armstrong’s play can be between the lines, his demeanor off the field is mild-mannered and introspective. “This feeling’s fleeting,” he said. “It doesn’t always stay.”

Crow-Armstrong credited hitting coaches Dustin Kelly and John Mallee for helping him find a consistent stance that accentuates his athleticism. He acknowledged it is easier to hit with runners on base, in a deep lineup anchored by Tucker and Seiya Suzuki. He appreciated how teammates such as Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner encouraged him while he was struggling.

In terms of approach, Crow-Armstrong also gave a shoutout to Justin Turner, the team’s 40-year-old hitting guru. Whether you are feeling good or bad, Crow-Armstrong said, the main focus is “being able to go up there like it’s 0 for 0 every time.”

NBA Playoffs

Eastern Conference Finals

(Best of 7)

Game 1

Wednesday

Indiana Pacers 138, New York Knicks 135 (OT)

Game 2

Friday

Pacers 114, Knicks 109

Game 3 (IND leads series 2-0)

Sunday

Knicks at Pacers, 8 p.m. ET

Western Conference Finals

(Best of 7)

Game 1

Tuesday

Oklahoma City Thunder 114, Minnesota Timber

wolves 88

Game 2

Thursday

Thunder 118, Timberwolves 103

Game 3

Saturday

Timberwolves 143, Thunder 101

Game 4 (OKC leads series 2-1)

Today

Thunder at Timberwolves, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)