Pete Crow-Armstrong Becomes First Cubs Player To Win This Award

Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong will add a lot of hardware over the next few weeks. 

He is the favorite to win the National League MVP, is expected to win his second straight Gold Glove, could win the Platinum Glove after an incredible defensive season, and was recently named a finalist for the Hank Aaron Award, which honors the best offensive player in both leagues. 

Crow-Armstrong has added his first hardware to his trophy case, as Baseball America named the superstar outfielder its Player of the Year for the 2026 season. Baseball America has awarded this award annually since 1998 to the player with the best season in baseball. 

This year, that player was Crow-Armstrong. 

The 24-year-old had an incredible 2026 campaign. After posting solid numbers in his first full MLB season in 2025, Crow-Armstrong took his game to another level this past year. He slashed .280/.372/.570 with 45 home runs, 31 doubles, 107 RBI, and 41 stolen bases across 162 games. 

Crow-Armstrong actually got off to a slow start this year, slashing .223/.311/.363 with six home runs,  23 RBI, and 12 stolen bases in his first 54 games through May 25. But then something clicked for the soon-to-be NL MVP.  

From May 26 onward, Crow-Armstrong slashed .305/.399/.633 with 39 home runs, 26 doubles, three triples, 94 RBI, and 29 games over his final 108 games. His walk rate increased, his strikeout rate decreased, and the Cubs outfielder emerged as one of the best hitters in the sport. 

Crow-Armstrong’s 2026 season was special on so many levels. He became just the seventh player to join the 40-home run, 40-stolen base club, joining Jose Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996), Alex Rodriguez (1998), Alfonso Soriano (2006), Ronald Acuna Jr. (2023), and Shohei Ohtani (2024). 

The two-time All-Star also became the first player to finish in the 99th percentile or better in Batting Run Value (51), Fielding Run Value (26), and Baserunning Run Value (8) since this was first tracked in 2016.  

Being named Baseball America’s Player of the Year will be the first of many awards that Crow-Armstrong wins over the next few weeks. And deservingly so after his incredible 2026 campaign. 

Crow-Armstrong becomes the first Cubs player to be named Baseball America’s Player of the Year. In the last five years, this award has gone to Aaron Judge three times (2022, 2024, 2025) and Shohei Ohtani twice (2021 and 2023). 

Crow-Armstrong now joins the club.