Kyle Tucker Wins Silver Slugger, But Did Pete Crow-Armstrong Deserve It More?

The Chicago Cubs had four names in the mix for the 2025 Silver Slugger awards: second baseman Nico Hoerner, outfielders Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong, and the team as a whole. When the dust settled, it was Tucker who came away with the hardware-his second Silver Slugger. But as the announcement rolled in, one question lingered: did the Cubs’ brightest young star, Pete Crow-Armstrong, get snubbed?

Let’s break it down.

Unlike other positions, the outfield Silver Slugger race is a bit more crowded. Instead of separating left, center, and right fielders, all outfielders are lumped into one group.

That means six finalists vying for just three spots. This year, Juan Soto of the Mets claimed his sixth straight Silver Slugger-no surprise there.

Corbin Carroll of the Diamondbacks followed, earning his first. That left one final slot, with most eyes on either James Wood from the Nationals or Crow-Armstrong.

But it was Tucker who got the nod.

— MLB (@MLB) July 10, 2025

Now, Tucker is no slouch. He’s a proven bat, a former Silver Slugger winner, and a player who’s already drawn super-max contract buzz. But if we’re talking strictly about 2025 production at the plate, the case for Crow-Armstrong is more than compelling-it’s downright convincing.

Statistically, Crow-Armstrong outpaced Tucker in nearly every major offensive category. More hits.

More doubles. More home runs.

More RBIs. More stolen bases.

A higher slugging percentage. For an award that’s all about offensive firepower, PCA checked more boxes.

Yes, he hit a rough patch in the summer that dragged his on-base percentage below .300, but his overall impact with the bat-and on the basepaths-was undeniable. It’s one thing to lose out to someone like Soto, who’s been the gold standard for outfielders in recent years. But in a head-to-head comparison with Tucker, Crow-Armstrong’s numbers speak for themselves.

And yet, Tucker walked away with the trophy.

This isn’t to take anything away from Tucker’s season. He’s a talented hitter with a proven track record, and his presence in the Cubs’ lineup brought a veteran steadiness.

But Crow-Armstrong’s 2025 campaign was a breakout in every sense of the word. He didn’t just show flashes-he delivered.

And while he didn’t add a Silver Slugger to his resume this year, he did take home his first Gold Glove, a testament to his elite work in center field.

At just 23 years old, Crow-Armstrong is only getting started. His combination of speed, power, and defensive brilliance makes him one of the most exciting young players in the game.

The Silver Slugger might’ve slipped through his fingers this time, but don’t expect that to be the case for long. If 2025 was his coming-out party, the rest of the league better be ready-because PCA looks like a star in the making.

More Cubs News: Chicago has extended qualifying offers to two of its free agents as the offseason begins to take shape.