Narciso Crook #16

First name is pronounced “nar-SEE-so.” Attended Trenton (NJ) Central High School. Played at Gloucester County College (now Rowan College of South Jersey), where in one game he went 5-for-6 with four HR and seven RBI. His step-father is former NFL wide receiver Alvis Darby. Is a cousin to former MLB catcher Angel Peña. Participated in the 2020 Reds Caravan.

2022

Spent the entire season with Triple-A Iowa...Led the club in RBI (67) and runs (tied, 61) and ranked second in games (101), total bases (178), HR (19) and steals (13). Ranked seventh among Cubs Minor Leaguers in HR and 8th in RBI. Recorded an OPS above .800 against both RHP (.801, 12 HR) and LHP (.936, 7 HR). With runners on base, hit .312 with a .906 OPS (58- for-186, 12 2B, two 3B, eight HR). In his first 23 games (through 5/21), hit .154 with a .584 OPS (10-for-65, 2 HR). In his next 64 games from 5/26-8/28, hit .302 with a .367 OBP, .575 SLG, and .942 OPS (76-for-252, 16 HR). Recorded a 17-game on-base streak from 6/10-7/4 and an 11-game hitting streak from 7/16-31. Selected to the ML roster on 6/30 and made his big league debut that day vs. CIN, entering the game as a pinch-hitter and going 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Played in each of the Cubs’ three games against the Red Sox from 7/1-3, going 0-for-5 with an RBI. Optioned on 7/3 and spent the remainder of the season with Iowa. Outrighted off the ML roster on 11/10 and signed with the Red Sox as a Minor League free agent on 11/18. Played in five games for Licey in the Dominican Winter League (1-for-7, BB, RBI).