Crow-Armstrong’s Plus-27 Fielding Run Value: Why His Gold Glove Is Already Won

Pete Crow-Armstrong has put together an absolutely ridiculous plus-27 Fielding Run Value this season, a number that screams “Gold Glove winner” louder than any stat we’ve seen in a long time. Seriously, MLB.com’s Jared Greenspan, Jason Foster, and Brian Murphy are calling it right now: this guy is taking home the National League Gold Glove for center fielders, and frankly, it feels like a done deal.

Unmatched Defense in the Outfield

The Cubs have been on a wild ride this 2026 season, swinging from unbeatable to “what just happened?” stretches. But one thing has been rock-solid: Pete Crow-Armstrong’s play. His defense is a highlight reel waiting to happen, basically unmatched in the sport, and it’s why these guys from MLB.com are predicting he’ll snag the Gold Glove for the second year running. We’re talking about a level of play that makes you drop your beer and rewind the DVR. He’s already stacked up eight “five-star” catches, which puts him second overall in MLB, just behind Boston’s Ceddanne Rafaela. Remember that insane robbery he pulled off against the Miami Marlins, scaling the center field wall? That’s not a fluke, that’s just PCA doing PCA things, and he’s been making plays like that all season long.

The Numbers Don’t Lie: A Gold Standard Season

Let’s get back to that monstrous plus-27 Fielding Run Value from Baseball Savant. That’s not just good, that’s absurd. The next closest guy is at plus-21, and his top competition for this award, Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages, is way down at a plus-12. Crow-Armstrong is more than doubling Pages’ FRV! When numbers like that are staring you in the face, how can you argue? The MLB.com trio summed it up perfectly, calling it an “easy” decision for voters. There isn’t another outfielder in the NL who should even be in the conversation to seriously challenge him for this award.

And get this, while his glove is pure gold, PCA isn’t just a defensive wizard. The guy’s been mashing, too, clobbering 41 homers on the year and swiping bases like a bandit. He’s also poised to potentially snag the NL MVP over Shohei Ohtani, though that one’s still “up in the air,” and could even post a 10-plus bWAR season. But for the Gold Glove? That trophy should already have his name etched on it.

This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.

Originally reported by The Sporting News.