Cubs’ Centerpiece: What Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 2025 Tells Us About His 2026 Ceiling

Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 2025 season was a rollercoaster – but the kind that leaves you wanting another ride, not one that makes you question your life choices. The Cubs’ young center fielder came out of the gate like a rocket, showing off the kind of talent that had scouts buzzing since he was a first-round pick by the Mets back in 2020. And while the second half of the season saw a noticeable dip in production, the body of work he put together was nothing short of impressive – and enough to raise both expectations and a few questions heading into 2026.

Let’s start with the raw tools. Crow-Armstrong has elite bat speed and hand-eye coordination – the kind of natural gifts that can’t be taught.

But as with most young hitters, the next step in his evolution is about refining the approach. That means tightening up his in-zone contact, laying off the junk outside the strike zone, and turning those tools into more consistent results.

The flashes are there – now it’s about stringing them together over a full season.

Plate discipline is a key area to watch. Too often in 2025, Crow-Armstrong got himself out by chasing pitches he had no business swinging at.

The good news? That’s a fixable flaw.

The better news? When he’s locked in, he’s capable of doing things few players in the league can match.

The hope in Chicago is that with another year of experience – and maybe a bit more patience – he can take that next step toward becoming a true offensive force.

Now, let’s be clear: this isn’t a guy who needs to be carried by his glove, but it sure doesn’t hurt. Crow-Armstrong’s defense in center field is already elite, and it’s a huge part of his value.

According to Baseball Reference, he posted an 8.1 bWAR through the end of 2025, with 6.0 of that coming last season alone. Fangraphs has him at 7.8 career fWAR, with 5.4 of that coming from his 2025 campaign.

That’s not just good – that’s cornerstone-player territory.

And yet, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. After the All-Star break, Crow-Armstrong’s production took a hit.

The bat cooled off, the strikeouts ticked up, and the spark that lit up the first half dimmed a bit. Fatigue?

Possibly. It’s not uncommon for young players to hit a wall in their first full season.

A more strategic approach to rest could go a long way. Whether it’s Kevin Alcántara or Dylan Carlson stepping in once a week or against tough lefties, giving PCA a breather now and then could help keep his legs fresh – and his bat dangerous.

Even with that second-half slump, the numbers paint the picture of a breakout year. Most projections for 2026 have him dialing back the power slightly but keeping the run production steady – think 25 homers and 85+ RBIs. If he can pair that with his usual defensive wizardry and avoid the post-break fade, we’re not just talking about a rising star – we’re talking about a potential superstar.

The Cubs have something special in Pete Crow-Armstrong. He’s already a fan favorite, a defensive highlight reel, and a clubhouse spark.

The next step? Consistency.

If he can put together a full season that looks more like his first half of 2025, the rest of the league is going to have a serious problem on its hands.