CHICAGO — On Sept. 29, 2024, the Chicago Cubs lost a game to the Cincinnati Reds 3-0. It was the final loss in a disappointing season which saw the postseason-hoping Cubs finish 83-79 and miss the playoffs entirely. It had been a season full of fun moments, electric plays inside historic Wrigley Field, and one full of loveable players. But ultimately, the season ended earlier than many people thought it should.
“From the top down this year, the expectation was to play in the playoffs,” said President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer.
The Cubbies sat on their couches and watched the Dodgers take down the Yankees in the 2024 World Series, thinking about how to get there themselves. This meant not only bolstering the roster with signings such as Mathew Boyd and Colin Rea, and trading for perennial MVP candidate Kyle Tucker, but it also meant current players on the roster needed to step up.
This is where Pete Crow-Armstrong (known to fans as PCA) comes in.
Drafted out of high school by the Mets, the Southern California native was traded to the Cubs in the deal that sent Javier Báez to Queens for half a season. By 2022, he was ranked sixth out of all Cubs prospects, and in 2023, he was ranked the 28th-best prospect in all of baseball. PCA’s hitting in the minors was nothing to sneeze at, hitting .342 across the minors. But where Crow-Armstrong really excelled at all levels was in the field. Scouts graded him an 80 fielding grade, which is the highest you can have, and essentially means it is a Hall of Fame level of skill at that trait.
His speed is also something to note, as when he got the call to the bigs, he went 22-for-22 on stolen bases in his first 22 attempts.
However, when he got called up to the majors, his hitting was abysmal. In his cup of coffee in 2023, he didn’t get a single hit. In 2024, he batted .233 across the first four months of the season. Despite the struggle, fans had reasons to have high hopes for the young prospect, as in the last two months of the season, he batted .285.
Coming into this year, though, Crow-Armstrong wanted to step it up. He found help in former third base coach for the Cubs, Willie Harris.
“Willie Harris last year was big in like getting me to just kind of say, f— it,… I think I just grew up a little bit and had a full year to be a little wishy-washy, one foot in, one foot out in terms of how I wanted to present myself when I wasn’t feeling like I had earned it. And I think what Willie was trying to get at was if you just go out and be yourself, you will have earned it because nobody could ask anything else of you other than to be yourself, especially in this place,” said Crow-Armstrong.
This advice has helped PCA become one of the best hitters in the game this season, batting .290 with 12 home runs. During the Crosstown Classic series against the Chicago White Sox, he went 8-for-14 with a home run, a double and two triples.
“Every time he comes up to the plate you know something awesome might happen,” said Cubs catcher Carson Kelly.
“I always knew he was going to be a star, 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,” said Cade Horton, former minor league (and now major league since Horton got the call) teammate of Crow-Armstrong.
The status of Crow-Armstrong among fans is only growing, especially in the bleachers, a legendary spot at Wrigley.
“Everybody’s encouraged me to build a little relationship with my people in the outfield, and that’s all I’ve tried doing before the game and, you know, it’s just the coolest s—,” said Crow-Armstrong.
Cubs fans are known to be loyal — 108 years of not winning a World Series will do that — but Wrigley faithful know it’s very different when the team gives you something to root for.
“They’ve always shown up regardless of record — cold days, sunny days, rainy days,” said Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson. “But there’s a difference in everyone coming to the game to enjoy themselves and people coming to watch the group win. That’s what’s been so awesome so far this season.”
And boy have Cubs fans seen a lot to cheer for. Whether it’s a walk-off defensive play from Swanson, a home run from any of their breakout power stars, or the third out of a bases-loaded jam, they’ve seen it all this year. In a way, PCA’s progression has mirrored that of the Cubs themselves, as instead of middling in the weak NL Central, this year they are first, six games ahead of last years division champs.
Now, will PCA slump? Probably. No one can sustain this level of production save for some MVPs, but this offensive breakout has just proven that the kid is willing to work, and here to stay.