Sometimes Cubs rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong needs to hear from Dansby Swanson, whose intensity he can relate to, on how to direct that energy in a productive way.
Sometimes he needs to channel Cody Bellinger’s chill demeanor to see the game through a wide lens.
“They’re kind of two opposite per-son-alities,” Crow-Armstrong said this year, “but both winners and really good baseball players.”
Crow-Armstrong has been eager to learn in his rookie season. And through the expected ups and downs, he eventually settled into a regular role in center field and then a rhythm at the plate. Since ending a six-game hitless streak (0-for-20) in late July, Crow-Armstrong has hit .317 in his last 12 games with five extra-base hits.
“I’ve evolved as a human being and as a baseball player only because I’ve had enough time now to evaluate my failures,” Crow-Armstrong said after initiating the Cubs’ biggest rally in an 8-2 win Wednesday against the Twins. “And I haven’t ever had a surplus of that in my life.”
Crow-Armstrong’s plate discipline has been a big factor in his offensive development. In particular, he has lowered his chase rate against breaking balls.
Though he has shown before that he can hit those pitches — he homered twice off breaking balls below the zone in the same game against the Cardinals last month — he has also stuck out on pitches low and inside more than any other area outside the strike zone.
“Knowing what my zone is and being OK punching out on a pitch like I punched out looking on today,” Crow-Armstrong said, referring to the sixth inning Wednesday, when Twins reliever Josh Winder’s 2-2 slider clipped the outside edge of the strike zone. “Tipping my cap, taking the ego out of it all — where I can’t hit everything, and I can’t hit everything well, and I won’t ever. So just looking middle. It’s been that simple, and it’s really worked.”
Improved plate discipline is tied to a better on-base percentage. And when Crow-Armstrong gets on base, he’s practically guaranteed to move into scoring position.
Leading the team in stolen bases, his 22 straight successful swipes give him the second-longest such streak to begin a rookie season since 1951, when both leagues began tracking caught stealing.
“Being able to have a routine to fall back on, it’s probably the biggest cushion I could give myself,” Crow-Armstrong said. “But also just giving in to letting people help me and looking for it — whether that’s asking for it or having conversations and learning.”
Between his improved offensive pro-duction and consistent defensive impact — he’s already tied for 13th in outs above average (seven) among qualified outfielders and is among the top four (33.3%) in five-star catch opportunities, per Statcast — he’s expected to play center field most games, even when Bellinger returns to the field.
“I enjoy playing multiple positions,” Bellinger said when he first started playing right field part-time to give Crow-Armstrong more regular playing time. “It’s definitely challenging, but I think it makes me unique in this game.”
Bellinger and Crow-Armstrong’s relation-ship predates their time as teammates. They were brought together in Arizona in 2021 by mutual friendships with baseball brothers Cole and Carson Tucker.
So when Crow-Armstrong gets down on himself for barely missing a tough diving play — like Matt Chapman’s short line drive (25% catch probability) that went off the end of his glove during a 5-4 loss to the Giants last month — Bellinger can provide perspective.
“I was like, ‘Dude, not many center fielders even have a chance to catch that ball,’ ” Bellinger said of their conversation the next day. “He’s mad he didn’t catch it, which that’s why he’s so good at center.”
In the aftermath, Crow-Armstrong needed more Bellinger to see the bigger picture.
