Chicago Cubs prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong ‘hitting the ball harder than ever’Ryan Sikeson March 2, 2022 at 1:00 pm

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(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Part of the Javier Baez trade at last year’s trade deadline, Pete Crow-Armstrong gave the Chicago Cubs farm system another blue-chip prospect to hang their hat on. The organization’s farm system was primarily depleted from players who had either graduated to the Major League level or were traded to acquire assets.

Selected with the 19th overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft, the Sherman Oaks, California native was named the Los Angeles Times player of the year playing for Harvard-Westlake High School. He was gifted with natural defensive abilities and was widely considered the best defensive outfielder in his class.

However, much like Albert Almora drew the same comparisons going into the 2012 MLB draft, Crow-Armstrong’s progression through the minors is predicated mainly on the development of his bat.

The 19-year-old phenom played in just six games last season before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery on his non-throwing arm. At the time, Crow-Armstrong was the Mets’ No. 5 prospect, per MLB.com. In a small sample size, he hit a robust .417 with a 7-to-6 walk-to-strikeout ratio to go along with two doubles for Low-A St. Lucie.

A healthy Pete Crow-Armstrong has Chicago Cubs VP of Player Development Jared Banner raving for his potential at the plate.

Cubs outfield prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong — acquired from Mets in the Javy Baez trade — back in the cage. Underwent right (non-throwing) shoulder surgery in May.

Via PCA’s instagram (at petecrowarmatrong). pic.twitter.com/LQ06aP3ku4

— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) November 17, 2021

A few tweaks to his swing has Cubs Vice President of Player Development Jared Banner raving about his newest hitting prospect:

“(Crow-Armstrong) is a really great athlete. I don’t know if he gets enough credit for how good of an athlete he is. He can really run, a premium defender in centerfield. And offensively, he’s just getting better and better. I know he obviously didn’t play much last season due to injury, but he did work on his body and he did get stronger and mature as a ballplayer. He’s hitting the ball harder now than ever. I think he is really going to open some eyes when he’s able to take the field again… and he’s a full go now. – Banner/Cubs Weekly Podcast

Banner is familiar with Crow-Armstrong from his time as the Mets Executive Director, Player Development, overseeing the team’s minor league system since December 2018.

Crow-Armstrong is likely a safe bet to begin the year at Low-A Myrtle Beach, but he could ascend quickly through the Cubs’ minor league system if he showcases well.

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