Pete Crow-Armstrong Focused on Becoming 'More Well-Rounded Offensive Asset' for Cubs

The 23-year-old center fielder is working to correct inconsistencies at the plate after a career-best 2025 season.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is determined to build on his breakout 2025 campaign, when he made the All-Star team and posted impressive offensive numbers in the first half before struggling down the stretch. Crow-Armstrong has spent the offseason addressing the mechanical issues that contributed to his second-half slump, focusing on maintaining a consistent batting stance to avoid the swings in production. The 23-year-old is also aiming to improve his on-base percentage and become a more well-rounded hitter, while acknowledging that playing Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field remains his top priority.

Why it matters

Crow-Armstrong's development is crucial for the Cubs as they look to return to the playoffs in 2026. After a promising first half, his late-season offensive struggles were a concern, and the team will need him to provide consistent production at the plate to complement his elite defensive skills in center field. If Crow-Armstrong can find more consistency and become a more complete hitter, it would be a significant boost for the Cubs' lineup and their postseason aspirations.

The details

Crow-Armstrong and the Cubs' coaching staff, including assistant hitting coach John Mallee, have identified the root cause of his second-half struggles as an inconsistent batting stance that led to mechanical issues and poorer decision-making at the plate. By focusing on maintaining a consistent setup in the batter's box, Crow-Armstrong hopes to avoid the drastic swings in performance that plagued him in 2025. The young outfielder is also aiming to be more selective at the plate and reduce his swing rate, which was 59.5% last season.

  • Crow-Armstrong had an All-Star-caliber first half in 2025, with 21 doubles, 25 home runs, and 27 stolen bases.
  • In the final two months of the 2025 season, Crow-Armstrong's production dropped significantly, with a .216/.262/.372 slash line and a .634 OPS.

The players

Pete Crow-Armstrong

A 23-year-old center fielder for the Chicago Cubs who is coming off a breakout 2025 season and is focused on becoming a more consistent and well-rounded hitter.

John Mallee

The assistant hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs, who has worked closely with Crow-Armstrong to address the mechanical issues that contributed to his second-half struggles in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“You look back at the year and you're disappointed by hitting 30 homers and stealing 30 bags and hitting 37 (doubles), like, I am, but if I hit six homers in the first half versus the second half, and I hit 25 homers in the second half, I'm probably pretty freaking happy. So it doesn't matter how I do it. I did what I did last year. It's just about doing more of it the next year.”

— Pete Crow-Armstrong (Chicago Tribune)

“I'm most proud of his maturity. That sixth tool is going to make him either a great or just a good player. It's being able to control his emotions and get into the next pitch and those type of things. I'm most proud of him for that and just watching him grow up in front of my eyes, it's like watching your son grow up.”

— John Mallee, Assistant Hitting Coach, Chicago Cubs (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

Crow-Armstrong will continue to work on maintaining a consistent batting stance and approach at the plate throughout spring training and the 2026 season, with the goal of avoiding the drastic swings in production that plagued him in 2025.

The takeaway

Crow-Armstrong's development into a more well-rounded offensive player is crucial for the Cubs as they look to return to the playoffs in 2026. By addressing the mechanical and mental aspects of his game, the 23-year-old center fielder is determined to build on his breakout 2025 campaign and provide consistent production at the plate to complement his elite defensive skills.