This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian’s Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
CHICAGO -- Pete Crow-Armstrong is in the type of zone right now that seizes fans’ attention when he steps into the batter’s box. This is must-see TV. These are moments to stay in your seat and put off that trip to the concession stand.
Probability and logic say this will all slow down at some point, but this wild run by the Cubs’ electric center fielder over the past month-plus has been something to behold. There are ways to slice the numbers to show that this hot streak is, simply put, one of the hottest streaks in the long, storied history of the franchise.
“His production has been just excellent,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “His production has taken a big step forward, and that’s meaningful for us.”
Counsell made those remarks before Saturday’s game -- when Crow-Armstrong reached base three times and launched another homer -- and, to be honest, it was a bit of an understatement. The past month of baseball from Crow-Armstrong has been more than a step forward. It has been almost statistically unfathomable.
Let’s break some of it down:
• Crow-Armstrong heads into the upcoming series with the Mets -- the team that famously traded him to the Cubs in 2021 -- riding a 23-game on-base streak. Within that period, the 24-year-old has hit .412/.468/.835. That’s a 1.303 OPS generated by 10 homers, seven doubles, two triples, 40 hits and 81 total bases. He also has 17 RBIs, eight walks and six steals in that stretch.
• The last Cubs batter to have at least 40 hits in a 23-game span during a season was Starlin Castro (July 18-Aug. 12, 2010). The last Cubs batter with at least six steals and 40 hits in a 23-game span during a season was Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg (June 19-July 13, 1984). The last Cubs hitter with at least six steals, 10 homers and 40 hits in any 23-game span during a season? It had never happened before Crow-Armstrong this year.
• In fact, poring through Stathead’s available data via Baseball Reference, there have only been 37 documented instances of a player having six steals, 10 homers and 40 hits in any 23-game stretch in a single season. PCA joins Shohei Ohtani (10 times in 2024), Julio Rodríguez (eight times in ‘23), Vladimir Guerrero (‘01), Larry Walker (three times in 1997), Dante Bichette (1996), Lee Mazzilli (three times in ‘80), Frank Robinson (twice in ‘61) and Willie Mays (five times in ‘58 and three times in ‘60) on that list.
• Crow-Armstrong has also thrived since being installed as the Cubs’ primary leadoff man in late May. In 22 games as Chicago’s tablesetter, the center fielder has hit .396/.462/.813 with nine homers, seven doubles, two triples, six steals, 10 walks and 16 RBIs. He has said he has embraced the “responsibility” that comes with the role.
One thing Crow-Armstrong has cited has been an improved understanding of looking for a specific pitch and being stubborn about sticking to that plan. The byproduct of that mindset has been a walk rate nearly doubled (8.5%) over last season (4.5%), even as his swing rate has reduced since the start of the season (56.6% through April and 48.2% in May-June).
“He's in swing mode. It's kind of his thing,” Counsell said. “And I think now it’s a little bit like he's learned that he can be in swing mode and still not swing. And I think that's how he should be. It’s still an aggressive mode. It doesn't take anything away from his aggressiveness.”
There have been a few physical adjustments with Crow-Armstrong’s setup and swing, too.
Back on May 14, when the Cubs were tasked with facing Braves lefty Chris Sale, Crow-Armstrong moved closer to the plate. It was something he did in Triple-A against a tough left-on-left matchup in Evan Sisk, and he decided to give the approach a try again. Through May 13, Crow-Armstrong was 27.3 inches off the plate on average, per Statcast. Since May 14, he has moved up to 24.6 inches.
Crow-Armstrong is currently hitting .286 with 16 homers, 40 RBIs, 18 steals and an .883 OPS overall this season. Prior to May 14, he had a .236/.306/.369 slash line.
“It was just to give them less room to go,” Crow-Armstrong said. “The visual of seeing somebody standing right on top of the plate may change things. In turn, it’s helped me know where I need [pitches] to start. It’s helped me lay off stuff inside and cover the outer half of the plate.”
Crow-Armstrong has also shortened the distance between his feet in his stance. He was more spread out earlier in the year (32.8 inches on average through May 13, per Statcast) compared to the last six weeks (24.2 inches). He has also been deeper in the box by a few inches in comparison to the start of the season.
Probably the most noticeable change is what Crow-Armstrong has done with his hands. After beginning the season with his hands and elbow high in his setup, he has continued to lower the starting point since late May. Combined with the changes to his lower half, it has allowed Crow-Armstrong to really tap into a more athletic, powerful swing.
“The barrel rate has skyrocketed,” Cubs hitting coach Dustin Kelly said. “It was more just being able to hold the ground and not jump forward as much, and it kind of just slowed him down a little bit. It kept him grounded.”
Crow-Armstrong has also been trying to stay grounded mentally through this incredible stretch.
“The work that I’ve been doing all year, I think it’s just starting to come around a little bit,” he said. “Again, I don’t want to get too comfortable with any of that, because it’s been a month stretch of good baseball for me and I’ve got a lot more good baseball to play to help this team win.”