Pete Crow-Armstrong just pulled off one of the most incredible individual seasons in MLB history, finishing his 2026 campaign as the overwhelming National League MVP favorite. The 24-year-old center fielder became only the seventh player ever to join the esteemed 40-40 club, and now he’s got the Cubs heading straight into the playoffs. What a year for this guy.
From “Mini-Funk” to Absolute Fire
Believe it or not, this MVP-caliber season wasn’t always smooth sailing. Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a bit of a slump in mid-September, going 3 for his previous 20 with seven strikeouts and not a single extra-base hit. The Cubs were rolling into a tough three-game series against the eventual NL East champion Braves, and he just wasn’t locked in. He even popped out in foul territory in his first at-bat. But then, BOOM. His next time up, he blasted a rocket double down the right-field line, and it was game on. He finished that game with four hits, including a home run, and four RBI. Two nights later, he absolutely went off again, with three hits, a triple, and two homers in a single game. To put that into perspective: one four-hit game and an 11-base game against a playoff team, all in one series. Unreal.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell, who’s seen a lot in baseball, was blown away. After that two-home run game, he told Alex Bregman, “You spend your whole life in baseball and you just don’t see this happen on a baseball field. You’re grateful to be a part of it.” Counsell would know, too. He’s won World Series as a player, been teammates with MVP winners like Ryan Braun, and managed Christian Yelich during his MVP season. When a guy with that resume says he doesn’t see things like this often, you know it’s special. Even Alex Bregman, a two-time World Series champ who played with José Altuve and was in the same division as Mike Trout for nine years, was right there hearing Counsell’s awe.
The Numbers Are Hard to Ignore
Crow-Armstrong wrapped up his magical season on Sunday, getting pulled for a pinch runner after a leadoff single. His final line is jaw-dropping: a .280 batting average, .372 on-base percentage, and .570 slugging percentage for a 155 OPS+. He smashed 31 doubles, eight triples, and 45 home runs, driving in 107 RBI and scoring 119 runs. Oh, and he stole 41 bases, alongside some of the best defensive stats in baseball. His 9.8 bWAR and 10.6 fWAR just scream elite. That 40-40 club entry, with 45 dingers and 41 swipes, cemented his place in history as one of the very best individual seasons the Cubs have ever seen. Cubs utility infielder Matt Shaw put it best: “As far as the seasons I’ve seen in my experience in professional baseball, this is the best. I don’t think I’ve seen anything that even compares.”
Now, the Cubs are playoff-bound, and Crow-Armstrong is riding this historic wave. Can he carry this momentum into the postseason and finish what he started? All eyes are going to be on him.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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