Pete Crow-Armstrong isn’t just having a good year; he’s redefining the conversation around the Chicago Cubs forever. The 24-year-old outfielder has pulled off something rare by locking in back-to-back seasons with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. This feat places him in a tiny group of players who can hit for power and run the bases with elite speed.
His impact was on full display during the Crosstown Classic. He led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run against the White Sox. With his 30th home run of the year, he then walked off the game. He started the very next game with another home run too. This kind of offensive and defensive show on the North Side is electric.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Look at the stats and you see a player who has reset his floor. According to Bleed Cubbie Blue, Crow-Armstrong is on pace for more than 10 fWAR. That is a number we haven’t seen in the National League since Barry Bonds. A 10 fWAR season is such a rare thing that it demands we look at history. His new approach at the plate is working, and he’s the best defender in the Statcast Era.
He has 31 home runs and 31 steals with only 35 games left in the season. The question now is simple: can he get nine more of each to join the 40-40 club? MLB history has seen only six players ever do that. Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Shohei Ohtani are the only names on that list. Ohtani is the only member of the 50-50 club.
MVP Talk Is Real
While many people might think Shohei Ohtani is the clear choice, the debate has shifted. ESPN polled 20 players and 15 of them voted for Pete Crow-Armstrong. The narrative is changing fast. Regarding the MLB’s NL MVP race, @Kurkjian_ESPN noted, “I think Shohei is still the MVP, however [Pete Crow-Armstrong] is catching up very quickly”
This isn’t just a fallback option because Ohtani missed time on the mound. Crow-Armstrong’s case is one of the strongest we’ve seen in the National League in decades. He’s proving he belongs in the same conversation as the greatest players to wear the uniform. “This is obviously a top 10 all-time Cubs season,” according to Bleed Cubbie Blue.
The history books are already looking different. He is sitting alongside Rogers Hornsby, Sammy Sosa, Ernie Banks, and Ron Santo in the all-time great list. Those legends put up huge numbers, but Crow-Armstrong is doing it with a two-way skill set that was rare even then. The fans in Chicago are watching a player who can do it all.
