The 24-year-old superstar shattered franchise records against Miami, joining icons Billy Williams and Ernie Banks.
It has been a remarkable 2026 campaign for Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.
After breaking out during the 2025 season with 31 home runs and 35 stolen bases, Crow-Armstrong has now emerged as one of the best players in the entire sport. He has taken his game to another level in 2026.
In Sunday’s 10-3 loss to the Miami Marlins, Crow-Armstrong continued to etch himself into Cubs history. The lefty slugger launched his 40th home run of the season on a hanging sweeper in the middle part of the zone in the top of the fifth to tie things up.
That 40th home run has now put Crow-Armstrong’s name alongside some Cubs icons.
He joins Billy Williams (1970) as the only two left-handed Cubs hitters to hit 40+ home runs in a season and joins Ernie Banks (1955) as the only two Cubs hitters to hit 40+ home runs in their age-24 season or younger.
Crow-Armstrong needs just three more home runs to pass Williams’ 42 home runs back in 1970 for the most long balls by a lefty in Cubs history, and needs five more home runs to pass Banks’ 44 home runs in 1955 for the most home runs by a Cubs hitter at age 24 or younger.
Crow-Armstrong is also the only Cubs player in MLB history to hit 40+ home runs and steal 30+ bases in a season. Sammy Sosa never did it. Ryne Sandberg never did it. Banks never did it. Williams never did it.
The season that Crow-Armstrong is having is one of the best in Cubs history. He’s currently slashing .280/.374/.572 with 40 home runs, 28 doubles, seven triples, 96 RBI, and 33 stolen bases, while continuing to be the best defensive center fielder in baseball. The Gold Glover leads all defenders in fielding run value, outs above average, runs prevented, and four-star catches.
Crow-Armstrong is the clear favorite to win the National League MVP with only a few weeks left in the regular season. His combination of home runs, stolen bases, and elite defense has him in the driver’s seat to win his first career MVP award.
It seems like the 24-year-old superstar is coming up big for this Cubs team almost every day. He made an incredible leaping grab to rob Heriberto Hernandez of a potential home run on Saturday and then hit a game-tying home run on Sunday before Chicago lost.
Crow-Armstrong is having one of the best seasons in Cubs history. It might not be on the level of Sammy Sosa’s MVP campaign in 1998, but the young star is certainly putting together a dominant 2026 season.
