This is the first of what are likely to be several major awards won by Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong this year (Bluesky link):
You all know PCA’s numbers, but they are certainly worth repeating here, because they represent a Cubs season not seen
in decades. Some highlights as posted in the BA article:
• He led all MLB hitters with 45 home runs, 119 runs, 84 extra-base hits and 357 total bases.
• He led National League hitters with a .570 slugging percentage, .943 OPS and 157 wRC+.
• He played in all 162 games, drove in 107 runs batting primarily out of the leadoff spot, stole 41 bases, grounded into just two double plays and played a spotless center field, positioning him for a second straight Gold Glove.
• Beneath the surface, he improved his decision-making by swinging less, chasing less and missing less. As a result, he drew 83 walks, hit .280 and posted a .372 OBP—all far and away his best marks in three full MLB seasons.
• His discipline gains were most apparent in same-side matchups. He hit .280/.374/.505 versus lefthanders, one year after hitting .188 against them.
Of all those numbers, perhaps the difference in his plate discipline is the most impressive. PCA had a very good season in 2025, but walked only 29 times last year and posted a . 287 on-base percentage. He raised that OBP 85 points this year, which was eighth-best in the National League. Here’s another stat that will amaze you:
PCA had finished his breakout 2025 season on a down note, posting a .611 OPS for the final 60 games of that campaign.
But from June 1 onward, there was no better baseball player on the planet than PCA.
His 1.065 OPS and 186 wRC+, spanning 476 plate appearances, were tops in MLB. Consider: Crow-Armstrong packed so much value into the final four months of the 2026 season that he nearly went 30-30 in the final 102 games, finishing one stolen base shy of 30.
So over the season’s final four months, he put together numbers that probably would have won an MVP award even if you ignored the numbers before June 1:
And, as you know, the 9.8 bWAR he posted this year was tied with Ron Santo’s 1967 season for fourth-best in Cubs franchise history (behind Rogers Hornsby, 10.6 in 1929; Sammy Sosa, 10.3 in 2001; and Ernie Banks, 10.2 in 1959). PCA’s year created 10.6 fWAR, second only to Hornsby in 1929 (11.0).
He’ll certainly be the National League MVP when that award is announced next month, and there’s a good chance he’ll be the unanimous choice.
There’s one more award that PCA is up for:
The Hank Aaron Award was created in 1999 to honor the best offensive performer of the year in each league. Here’s a list of winners; there have been three Cubs to win the award previously (Kris Bryant in 2016, Aramis Ramirez in 2008 and Sammy Sosa in 1999.
And your vote counts! You can vote here and fan voting, along with a panel of Hall of Famers, will decide the winners, who will be announced next month:
The Hank Aaron Award winners will be announced live from The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT during a special presentation at the MLB Awards, which will be aired live on MLB Network for a fourth consecutive year.
As I’ve written before: Don’t ever forget what you saw Pete Crow-Armstrong do this year. The 2026 Cubs season didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but PCA’s performance was one for the ages.
