Pete Crow-Armstrong Becoming the Face of the Franchise, Right Before Our Eyes

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Four seasons ago, the Chicago Cubs acquired a 19-year-old outfield prospect named Pete Crow-Armstrong. Though set back by a major shoulder injury that had truncated his season, Crow-Armstrong was a highly touted prospect, and Cubs fans were eager for his arrival on the big-league team. What they couldn't have expected, however, were the similarities between Crow-Armstrong and Javier Báez that are becoming increasingly clear daily—beyond the obvious ones. It's more than swagger and charisma. The two share surprising substance beneath the style.

His takeover of Chicago has started with his play on the field. Crow-Armstrong is in the midst of an MVP-caliber season and the best overall season from a Cubs player since Báez finished second in MVP voting in 2018. He entered the All-Star break hitting .265 with 21 doubles, 25 home runs, 71 RBIs, 27 stolen bases, and an .847 OPS. He was appropriately rewarded with a starting nod for the National League in the All-Star Game, the same as Báez in 2018. He's put together all that offensive production while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field, with 15 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS).

It's not just Crow-Armstrong's play, though, that has turned him into the captivating player he has become in Chicago. It's the attitude, the effort, and so much more that have helped him garner such a significant amount of attention. Whether that be in interviews or stellar performances on the field, he has an infectious personality, and it's easy to understand why he's become so popular among the Wrigley faithful.

His presence at the All-Star Game further proved that, as it felt like he was popping up on every social media feed available. He was even mic'd up in center field during the game, showing that the higher-ups at MLB and its partner TV networks are leaning into his hype and wanting him at the forefront of one of the biggest yearly events in professional sports.

Maybe the coolest moment of the All-Star break was seeing Crow-Armstrong and Báez meet for (potentially) the first time since being traded for one another. It almost felt like a bit of a 'passing the torch' moment from a once-beloved Cub to the currently most beloved Cub. As great as it was as a fan watching, it had to be even cooler for those two. Crow-Armstrong made that known in media availability sessions on Monday, even before the two had the chance to meet up.

Crow-Armstrong has brought a much-needed buzz to Wrigley Field on a daily basis, and if the Chicago front office knows what is best and listens to the fans, he'll will never wear another jersey. He could easily be the face of the Cubs for years to come.