Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong emerged as a runaway favorite for the 2026 National League Most Valuable Player Award after a dramatic offensive turnaround that began in mid-May.
Through his first six weeks, Crow-Armstrong batted .238 with a .679 OPS. His performance shifted during a May matchup against the Atlanta Braves and left-hander Chris Sale. He singled on a 97 mph fastball and grounded out on a full-count pitch.
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Cubs hitting coach John Mallee adjusted Crow-Armstrong’s stance against left-handed pitchers by moving him closer to the plate. Mallee told him the change meant he would either get hit or drive the ball forward. Crow-Armstrong adopted the adjustment after speaking with former Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who had used a similar stance under Mallee.
Mallee also instructed Crow-Armstrong to wait for fastballs and force pitchers to throw three strikes with breaking balls. That approach lowered his chase rate and raised his walk total from six in March–April 2025 to nine in the same span in 2026.
In mid-May, Crow-Armstrong reinstated a leg kick to improve timing and lowered his back elbow to shorten his swing path. According to Mallee, those changes helped Crow-Armstrong move his center of mass forward sooner and more deliberately.
Over the final 119 games, Crow-Armstrong hit .294 with a .393 on-base percentage and .638 slugging percentage. He recorded 41 home runs, 31 stolen bases and 70 walks.
Trainer Kyle Henmi of Dawg Pound Athletics has worked with Crow-Armstrong since the outfielder was drafted in 2020. Henmi described him as exceptionally athletic and highly responsive to instruction. “He’s like clay — tell him to do something, and he does it,” Henmi said.
At 6-foot, 184 pounds, Crow-Armstrong generates power through rotational force, not bulk. Henmi emphasized plyometrics and explosiveness over muscle mass.
Crow-Armstrong’s demeanor matured this season. He reduced impulsive reactions like throwing bats or helmets. Mallee called that growth the “sixth tool”: mastering the mental side of the game.
Henmi recalled Crow-Armstrong once saying, “When I’m in the Hall of Fame in 20 years…” — not as bravado, but as quiet confidence grounded in daily work. “He truly believes that if he keeps working hard, stays humble and stays consistent, nothing will stop him,” Henmi said.
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