On the first day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
An Anthony Rizzo retirement for the ages,
On the second day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
A $2 scorecard
On the third day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
Three Schwarbombs in the first All-Star Game Home Run Swing-Off
On the fourth day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
Four playoff wins
On the fifth day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
A five game winning streak
On the sixth day of Cubsmas My true love gave to me A six (and a half) game lead
On the seventh day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
Seven walk-off wins
On the eighth day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
Eight home runs on the Fourth of July
On the ninth day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
Nine incredible Dansby Swanson plays in the Postseason
On the tenth day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
Ten All Star selections for Ryne Sandberg
On the eleventh day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
Eleven runs prevented by Nico Hoerner
On the twelfth day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
12+ five-star catches by Pete Crow-Armstrong
11 runs prevented by Nico Hoerner
Ten All Star selections for Ryne Sandberg
Nine incredible Dansby Swanson plays in the Postseason
Eight home runs on the Fourth of July
Seven walk-off wins
A six (and a half) game lead
A five game winning streak
Four playoff wins
Three Schwarbombs in the first All-Star Game Home Run Swing-Off
A $2 scorecard
And an Anthony Rizzo retirement for the ages
It’s the Twelfth Day of Christmas and what better way to wrap up a festive look back at 2025 than with one of the greatest defensive shows on Earth: Pete Crow-Armstrong playing center field for the Chicago Cubs. I admit I fudged a bit here, 12 actually sells PCA a bit short for the defensive season he had in 2025. According to Statcast, PCA had 19 five-star catches in 32 opportunities last season. For comparison, the next best fielder in MLB, Platinum Glove Winner and Red Sox centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela, had seven five-star catches out of 26 opportunities in 2025.
Let’s take a look back at 12 of the best catches PCA made last season.
PCA robs Juan Soto at Wrigley
Soto hit this ball 102 miles per hour into the gap, that’s supposed to be a double. Not when PCA is in center field, check out this diving catch [VIDEO].
He can make the same play to his left
Ozzie Albies doesn’t hit this ball quite as hard as Soto’s, but the result is the same. PCA has Wrigley Field covered from gap to gap [VIDEO].
He can come in on a ball, too
This little bloop looks like it should fall into shallow center for a base hit, but instead PCA comes in and steals a hit [VIDEO].
No hits for you, Andrew Vaughn
It’s worth remembering that part of what fueled an unbelievable Brewers run to catch and surpass the Cubs in the standings was an incredible run from former White Sox first round pick Andrew Vaughn. Whatever magic was in his bat in the second half wasn’t enough to get a hit in the vicinity of PCA [VIDEO].
A smooth sliding grab
PCA’s skills in center are so elite he makes this sliding grab of what would have been an Elly De La Cruz hit look routine [VIDEO].
Turning a routine catch into a double play
When the Red Sox came to town, PCA got a chance to show off his throwing arm in addition to his glove. Watch him double off Abraham Toro [VIDEO].
PCA’s got hops
Aaron Judge scalded this ball to the gap, but PCA’s got a great read on it and hops [VIDEO].
PCA shows off his glove on the 4th of July
We’ll always remember the 4th of July, 2025 for the eight home runs the Cubs hit off Cardinals pitching to set a new franchise record, but PCA was out there showing off his glove too [VIDEO].
Home run robbery
Brendan Donovan thought he had a home run with this long fly ball to center field. Pete Crow-Armstrong had other ideas [VIDEO].
My favorite catch of the year
This is a double. The Cubs have a one run lead with two outs in the eighth and Brice Turang hits a double, or at least he did if any other person on the planet is playing center field. I am still dumbfounded every time I watch PCA streak in from center to make this catch [VIDEO].
This had extra bases written all over it
Until PCA found his way to the gap to take extra bases away from Alex Call [VIDEO].
Stopping rallies before they start
TJ Friedl and the Reds are only down two in the ninth when PCA turned this hit into an out (and eventually a Daniel Palencia save) [VIDEO].
