Perhaps it’s a triple, which has a status as baseball’s most enjoyable play.
Or possibly it’s a stolen base. Or a working catch in heart area. Or a bunt.
No matter it’s, Pete Crow-Armstrong appears to make it further thrilling.
That’s the character of the Cubs’ heart fielder, who lately impressed a bobblehead giveaway with flames at his ft and a detachable batting helmet, simply to hammer house how briskly the man can transfer.
The Cubs have acquired contributions from up and down the batting order as they’ve surged by means of the season’s opening weeks, a necessity to rank the place the Cubs do, as the game’s highest scoring offense.
Although everybody’s been concerned, evidently Crow-Armstrong, the No. 7 hitter, has been proper in the course of all the pieces the No. 1 offense has achieved.
“Pete’s skill is to have an effect on all aspects of a recreation,” Cubs supervisor Craig Counsell stated earlier than Sunday’s recreation. “I don’t assume there’s many gamers proper now within the recreation that may do it to the extent that Pete does. And that’s why he’s a lot enjoyable to observe.”
Certainly, followers are having a blast watching Crow-Armstrong do all of it, chanting his identify when he involves the plate and roaring when he places on a present.
There was maybe no higher episode of that present than final week’s two-night star flip towards the Dodgers, when Crow-Armstrong went 6-for-9 with two homers, a double, seven RBIs, three runs scored and a pair stolen bases.
He added one other hit, run scored and RBI – plus two extra stolen bases – Friday towards the Phillies, additionally bunting house a run. He was hitless Saturday, however he made a stellar working catch in heart area to remind that these wheels are simply as helpful on outfield grass as they’re on the bottom paths.
“He’s a game-changer in all areas of the sport,” infielder Jon Berti informed the Solar-Occasions on Sunday. “Offensively, he’s obtained some energy, clearly. He runs the bases terribly effectively, and he places strain on the protection. Defensively, he makes such nice catches out in heart and covers a variety of floor on the market.
“It ignites a variety of vitality into this clubhouse.”
Crow-Armstrong all the time had these instruments, and Cubs followers noticed flashes within the 136 massive league video games he had performed coming into this season. That aforementioned bobblehead commemorated his inside-the-park house run final August.
In 2025, although, his manufacturing has been on one other stage. In his first 28 video games, he hit 5 homers, stole a league-leading 12 bases and walked six occasions. He had 10 homers, 27 steals and 21 walks in 123 video games final 12 months.
Crow-Armstrong’s .851 OPS, fourth-best amongst certified hitters within the red-hot Cubs lineup, ranked thirty second within the sport coming into Sunday.
Contemplating how he’s hitting, has there been any thought from Cubs brass to shifting him up from his No. 7 spot within the lineup?
“I believe our lineup is executing at an actual excessive stage proper now,” Counsell stated Friday. “The way in which it’s structured? Who’s round you determines who your matchups are later within the recreation. We’ve obtained Pete form of insulated, so he’s going to get a variety of right-handers, and he’s been actually performing towards right-handed pitching.
“I believe we’re in a great spot with it proper now. It’s extra necessary who performs than the order [they’re in]. They’re producing, so no intention [of changing it up] proper now.”
The Cubs are fast to remind that there’s a variety of season left. Offensive manufacturing has a behavior of ebbing and flowing throughout baseball’s six-month marathon.
The Cubs’ bats may cool. So may Crow-Armstrong’s.
However together with his skill to contribute an exciting, game-altering play together with his ft or his glove, ought to the bat quiet, Crow-Armstrong can guarantee he’ll be firing up the group and his teammates all summer time.
“He’s a very entertaining baseball participant,” Counsell stated. “The followers will inform you.”
