In the quiet hours before the first pitch at Wrigley Field, Pete Crow-Armstrong took practice swings off a tee at home plate. The Chicago Cubs’ All-Star center fielder usually prefers the controlled environment of the batting cage. It allows him to refine his technique. During this session, hitting coach John Mallee tossed front flips to Crow-Armstrong. Yet, despite the effort, he felt frustrated.
This season, Crow-Armstrong rarely struggled at the plate. Entering Monday’s City Series opener against the White Sox, his form had dipped. He was batting .128 with a .227 on-base percentage over his last nine games. The talk among the Cubs recently focused on maintaining perspective. They considered it a temporary slump. Monday’s game marked a turn towards positivity.
During the game, Crow-Armstrong’s performance shone. He demonstrated conviction in his swings. He emphasized moving “pedal to the metal” and not fearing missed swings. First, he smashed starter Luis Castillo’s opening pitch for a home run down the right-field line. Later, he hit a walk-off two-run homer against left-handed pitcher Hagen Smith in the 10th inning, securing a 7-5 win for the Cubs.
This feat made Crow-Armstrong the first MLB player since Vic Power in 1957 to hit both a leadoff and walk-off home run on the first and last pitches his team faced in a game. The game concluded as his best yet in the big leagues.
His achievement added a 30-home-run, 30-stolen-base season to his resume, marking back-to-back 30-30 seasons for the Cubs. Only Sammy Sosa accomplished similar feats previously. Crow-Armstrong joined an elite MLB group as the 10th player to achieve consecutive 30-30 seasons.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell expressed amazement at Crow-Armstrong’s performance. “Pete didn’t seem satisfied over the weekend,” said Counsell. “His ability to bounce back and excel today is remarkable. This is likely his best game so far.” Crow-Armstrong’s impact extends beyond the Cubs, as he became only the second player under 24 to accomplish back-to-back 30-30 seasons in MLB history, joining Bobby Witt Jr.
During Monday’s game, Crow-Armstrong amassed two home runs, a double, a single, a walk, a strikeout, a stolen base, two runs, and three RBIs. These achievements added 0.5 fWAR to his season total. Few qualified MLB hitters posted a lower fWAR this season, highlighting Crow-Armstrong’s significance.
Hitting coach Dustin Kelly acknowledged Crow-Armstrong’s consistency despite challenges. Kelly remarked, “When he’s hot, he’s exceptionally hot. He handles slumps without spiraling.” He added that opponents are more careful in pitching to him as MVP discussions intensify.
Despite first base being open during the 10th inning, the White Sox chose to pitch to Crow-Armstrong. Sox manager Will Venable placed rookie Smith in a left-on-left scenario rather than opting for an intentional walk. Crow-Armstrong’s aggressive style paid off.
Alex Bregman aided the Cubs with three hits and a walk in the ninth inning. This tied the game, setting Crow-Armstrong up for his heroics. Left-hander Shota Imanaga’s six strong innings and Jacob Webb’s scoreless top of the 10th also contributed.
The cheering “P-C-A” chants from Cubs fans echoed as Crow-Armstrong approached the plate in the 10th inning. This support underscores his integral role in the team. Crow-Armstrong reflected on his mindset during play. With clarity and determination, he focused on offense, avoiding distractions or overthinking swings.