Pete Crow-Armstrong has never lacked confidence. The 22-year-old center fielder has long been viewed as a defensive wizard with elite speed, but now he’s setting his sights even higher. After a mechanical adjustment that unlocked his bat late last season in the Cubs, he’s begun to envision just how much he can impact the game—on both sides. And yes, he’s crunched the numbers as well.
“I’ve done the math here and there,” Crow-Armstrong said with a grin during spring training. He knows what his numbers over the final two months of last season suggest. A 123 wRC+ from late July onward, combined with his Gold Glove-caliber defense, made him a legitimate impact player. Now, he’s wondering: What if he sustains that level over a full season? Well, the sky’s the limit.
As per Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic, the 22-year-old added, “But I don’t think that’s a constant thought. Whether I had that info from how I played last year at the end or not, I’d still feel like I have that in the tank. It would just be more of a thought like, ‘This year is the year.’ But I’m aware that I can put something really good together.”
Looking back, Crow-Armstrong’s late-season surge wasn’t a fluke. A mechanical tweak—adding a leg kick—unlocked a more balanced and controlled approach at the plate. Over those last two months, he racked up 2.2 WAR, ranking 19th in all of baseball. Project that over a full 162-game season, and you’re looking at a player who could push six or seven WAR. That’s elite territory.
Of course, sustained success in the big leagues is never a straight line. Cubs manager Craig Counsell knows the road won’t be without bumps. “Pete is still going to go through ups and downs,” Counsell said. “But we’ve seen what he’s capable of. Now it’s about consistency—shrinking the slumps, extending the hot streaks, and just staying on a steady path forward.”
That’s the challenge now: maintaining what he found late last season and proving he’s more than a two-month flash. The Cubs believe in his potential, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the front office starts considering a long-term extension. But Crow-Armstrong isn’t thinking about contracts just yet.
“I still gotta go get a full 162 to really deserve that,” he said. “But I’m always open to the conversation.” The talent is there, and so is the drive. If Crow-Armstrong’s bat takes the next step, the Cubs may have their next homegrown star.
What would an extension look like for Cubs?
The Cubs have every reason to explore a long-term extension with Pete Crow-Armstrong, especially if they believe his late-season offensive breakout is sustainable. Teams like Atlanta and Arizona have capitalized on young talent by locking in core players early, securing long-term value while avoiding skyrocketing arbitration costs. A potential agreement for Crow Armstrong might land somewhere between Michael Harris II’s eight-year deal of $72 million and Ezequiel Tovar’s seven-year extension of $63.5 million.
However, committing to a player with limited MLB experience always carries risk. Crow-Armstrong may prefer to bet on himself, hoping to prove his offensive improvements over a full season before negotiating a deal. If he establishes himself as a true five-tool star, his price tag could soar closer to Corbin Carroll’s eight-year, $111 million contract. On the Cubs’ side, they must weigh whether locking him in now provides enough cost certainty to justify the gamble.
In essence, with the front office operating within a controlled budget, securing Crow-Armstrong early could be a move that pays off in a big way—but only if he continues trending upward. Do you think the Cubs should strike early, or should they wait and risk paying a much steeper price later?
The post Cubs’ 22-YO Phenom Boldly Declares He’s “Done the Math” as He Sets Sights on Stardom Through Offense appeared first on EssentiallySports.