Chicago Cubs made all the right decisions on Pete Crow-Armstrong

Chicago Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong was announced as the unanimous National League MVP on Thursday, becoming the 9th MVP in franchise history. Crow-Armstrong, 24, boasts an All Star nod, Gold Glove, Platinum Glove, and Hank Aaron Award, along with MVP honors for 2026. A Silver Slugger Award likely awaits him next week.

Around here, PCA means MVP. pic.twitter.com/5qzeOaal3e

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) November 13, 2026

Crow-Armstrong had a season for the ages. For all the ups and downs Jed Hoyer and company have experienced, they hit this one out of the park. From the day he arrived as a prospect, through his MVP win, the Cubs organization developed a star.

The Cubs handled PCA perfectly

It’s amazing to remember that the Cubs acquired Crow-Armstrong in 2021 from the Mets for Javier Báez (and Trevor Williams), one of the North Side’s most beloved players. For years, fans wanted “El Mago” to be a Cub for life. He was a two-time All Star, 2016 NLCS co-MVP, World Series champion, and a human highlight reel at shortstop. It was a painful day for many when Báez was dealt for a 19-year-old lottery ticket.

Yes, Crow-Armstrong was a first round pick, so he wasn’t some completely out-of-nowhere kid, but only a handful of prospects pan out. What were the odds he would be a star like Báez, even as he blossomed in the minors? The Cubs liked those odds. Next thing we knew, he was named an NL All Star in 2025 and posted a 30-30 season.

On March 25, 2026, Crow-Armstrong signed a six-year, $115 million extension. Some still questioned his hitting abilities, but the Cubs believed in him long-term. His AAV in 2026 was $10.3 million…for a 40-40, 10.4 fWAR season. Juan Soto’s AAV in 2026 was $61.975 million. The deal currently looks like an absolute bargain, and the Cubs jumped on it at a great time.

PCA’s support system

Crow-Armstrong’s journey through the Cubs system was just a part of his development into a stud. Like many young players, he went through massive growing pains in the Majors. Even in his 2025 All Star season, he posted just a .278 OBP with a chase rate in the 2nd percentile, and a walk rate in the 4th percentile in 157 games.

The people around him, from coaches to teammates, helped him grow. Two huge contributors included assistant hitting coach John Mallee and Alex Bregman. Crow-Armstrong called Mallee his “baseball dad” and said he got him his MVP award. He also credited Bregman for helping him make adjustments when speaking on MLB Network.

“John Mallee is super important to me … that’s my baseball dad … John Mallee got me this award when it comes to making me an all-around baseball player.”

PCA on what Cubs hitting coach John Mallee means to him pic.twitter.com/d6nNKlaH9d

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) November 13, 2026

Adjustments to Crow-Armstrong’s stance were clear when he started hitting post-May 2026. He lowered his hands from shoulder height to below his chest, narrowing his stance as he set himself deeper in the box. Jared Diamond and Brian McGill of The Wall Street Journal laid it out perfectly.

The numbers behind Pete Crow-Armstrong’s mechanical changes are amazing. He was hitting .224 with his hold stance — and .320 since reworking his setup.

This great graphic by @brian_mcgill shows it perfectly.https://t.co/zqq00YYzH0 pic.twitter.com/0QIJiLzMDJ

— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) September 2, 2026

Crow-Armstrong is just hitting his stride as a 24-year-old player. There is a lot of uneasiness regarding the Cubs’ future, but we know PCA will be here to entertain the masses. A unanimous MVP, well deserved.

The post Chicago Cubs made all the right decisions on Pete Crow-Armstrong appeared first on ChiCitySports.