Chicago Cubs centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has put together an incredible season both offensively and defensively.
His phenomenal first half has him firmly in the National League Most Valuable Player conversation, and the last two players to accomplish what Crow-Armstrong has done this season won the award.
According to Marquee Sports Network, Crow-Armstrong is the only player with 20+ stolen bases, home runs and doubles before the All-Star Game; both Ronald Acuña Jr. (2023) and Ryan Braun (2011) took home MVP honors when they achieved this feat.
The speedy 23-year-old has done nothing but awe fans this season. He has 25 home runs and 71 RBI while slashing .265/.302/.544 and stealing 27 bases in 95 games this season.
His offensive presence this season is drastically different than last season. In 123 games last year, Crow-Armstrong had 10 home runs and 47 RBI, slashing .237/.286/.384 with 27 stolen bases.
He has eclipsed all of these marks in just the first half of this season. Not only has he been fun to watch hit, but he’s also been fun to watch play defense.
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Crow-Armstrong is tied for the Major League Baseball lead with 16 Outs Above Average (Baseball Savant) and is second among centerfielders with 13 Defensive Runs Saved (FanGraphs).
He has the most nine five-star catches, meaning the play had a 25% or less chance of being made, and no other player has more than three.
He is truly incredible to watch, and if he continues to play at an elite level, he may just take the MVP award from Shohei Ohtani. His 5.4 bWAR leads the NL and is 1.1 points higher than Ohtani’s.
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