Charting Pete-Crow Armstrong's Evolution with the Cubs

[Cory Sparks]

Image courtesy of © Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Pete Crow-Armstrong is one of the most talented center fielders in Major League Baseball, but there’s no doubt that he has his fair share of components to improve on. Whether it’s making the routine plays in the field or having a more mature approach at the plate, the 2025 All-Star is polishing his game. Let’s dive into the areas where the Chicago Cubs’ starting center fielder is making key strides. 

Reevaluating Pete Crow-Armstrong's Standing With Cubs

Crow-Armstrong was originally a first-round draft pick back in 2020, when the New York Mets selected him at 19 overall. A standout prep product, Crow-Armstrong’s reputation for being able to use his blistering speed both on the bases and in the outfield to close gaps made him a hot commodity in that year’s draft class. 

Shortly after joining the Mets’ pipeline, New York dealt him to the Cubs in a trade that involved former 2016 World Champion Javier Baez. Crow-Armstrong immediately became one of the North Siders’ top up-and-coming talents before being tabbed as the team’s top farmhand in both 2023 and 2024. After making his MLB debut down the home stretch of the 2023 season, Crow-Armstrong became an everyday starter the following campaign and has held his spot ever since. 

The Magical Year of 2025

The now-24-year-old made significant strides last year, enjoying a decorated season that included first career honors with an All-Star selection and a Gold Glove Award. The Cubs’ center fielder had plenty to be proud of, logging 31 home runs, 95 runs batted in and 35 stolen bases, allowing the young superstar to join the coveted 30-30 club.

Crow-Armstrong’s barrel percentage ballooned above the league average, allowing him to be a more effective slugger, and in turn, clocking career bests in slugging percentage (.481) and OPS (.768). That barrel rate sat at 13.1%, nestling him into the 82nd percentile. His bat speed also skyrocketed, starting from 70.6 miles per hour (26th percentile) in 2025 to 72.7 miles her hour (61st percentile). 

His fielding attributes, which are really the reason he was such a highly touted prospect in the first place, were also off the charts. HIS range (24 OAA, 100th percentile), arm value (+2, 88th percentile) and arm strength (92.3 mph, 94th percentile) were on full display in his coming out year. 

Consequential Holes In His Game

While 2025 was a banner year, Crow-Armstrong still had plenty of components to improve on. His chase percentage was one of the worst in the game, riding in at 41.7% (2nd percentile). His plate discipline was a main struggle point, and that high chase rate led to a very low walk rate of 4.5% (4th percentile). Therefore, even though he hit .247, his on-base percentage finished below the .300 mark for the second straight year at just .287. 

Crow-Armstrong’s strikeout rate was also well below the league average at 24% (33rd percentile). Overall, this is someone who had some electric moment and gained confidence in his ability to generate power, but much like the man he was traded for in Baez, he had trouble with balls out of the zone. 

Turning A New Leaf?

The 2026 campaign has become another stepping stone for Crow-Armstrong, and while he still lacks day-to-day consistency, the overall trends are pointing towards a vast improvement for the Harvard-Westlake High School alum. 

His maturity at the plate has skyrocketed, yielding an 8.3% walk rate. It’s a rate that’s still below league average, but it’s in a much more promising spot at the 40th percentile. His chase rate of 38.5% is in the 8th percentile, which is well below the league average but still an improvement upon his 2025 mark. Even with this mild improvement, the 2025 All-Star has a career-best .343 on-base percentage, a whole 57 points clear of last year’s number. 

This is already one of the most talented players in the league. If he can continue to develop his plate discipline and take on a more mature play-style, the sky is truly the limit.

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