Pete Crow-Armstrong Is Making a Case as a Top-5 Player Right Now
- William Gilhooly
- Jun 18
- 2 min read
by William Gilhooly
Sportz Nation - 6/18/2026
The Cubs center fielder’s incredible June has vaulted him into the National League MVP conversation.
On Monday night, Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong received a thunderous ovation from the Wrigley Field crowd after completing the cycle. Chants of "MVPete" echoed throughout the ballpark as fans celebrated one of the most memorable performances of his young career. The moment, however, was briefly interrupted when Crow-Armstrong was picked off first base just moments later but the aura was still there.
In previous seasons, a mistake like that might have lingered.
Crow-Armstrong has long been known for wearing his emotions on his sleeve. Whether it was an altercation with a White Sox fan after misplaying a fly ball, exchanging words with a Dodgers fan before an at-bat earlier this season, or the bat flips and hot-mic moments that have followed him throughout his career, emotion has always been part of his game.
But at 24 years old, Crow-Armstrong appears to be turning a corner.
"I had an opportunity to let that moment affect the rest of the game when we had two innings left to play," Crow-Armstrong said. "That’s something him (manager Craig Counsell) and I have discussed, and he’s acknowledged that he’s proud of my late-game at-bats. When things don’t necessarily go my way, I still have the ability to pick myself up and help lift my teammates as well."
The growth is showing up not only in his maturity but also in his performance.
Crow-Armstrong has emerged as one of the most valuable players in baseball, leading Major League Baseball in WAR while also ranking first in defensive WAR, fielding run value, and arm value.
Defense has never been the question. Widely regarded as one of the sport’s premier defensive center fielders, Crow-Armstrong has built his reputation on elite range, instincts, and arm strength. What has transformed him from an exciting young player into a legitimate MVP candidate is his dramatic offensive improvement.
In June, Crow-Armstrong is hitting .417 with seven home runs, 10 RBIs, and a staggering 1.338 OPS. His torrid stretch has elevated his season OPS from .717 to .846, placing him among the game’s elite outfielders and turning him from a defensive specialist into a true five-tool star. The improvements at the plate have not gone unnoticed by manager Craig Counsell. While Crow-Armstrong’s cycle grabbed the headlines, Counsell pointed to a sacrifice-fly at-bat as the moment that stood out most.
"That was probably my favorite at-bat," Counsell said. "It was: hit a ball hard, have a great at-bat, control yourself within the at-bat and swing at the right pitches. That’s the growth that’s exciting to see."
For a player competing in an era dominated by Shohei Ohtani, Crow-Armstrong may never have the advantage of impacting games as both a hitter and pitcher. But he is carving out his own unique path to superstardom.
With elite defense, game-changing speed, emerging power, and a rapidly maturing approach at the plate, Crow-Armstrong is doing things few players in today’s game can match.
If his breakout season continues, the Cubs star won’t just remain in the National League MVP conversation, he could become one of the youngest MVP winners in recent memory.
-William Gilhooly
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