The Chicago Cubs are looking to improve upon their 92-70 record from 2025. As 2026 Spring Training continues, they come closer and closer, every day, to figuring out who will be on their Opening Day roster. Of course, there are several locks for the lineup, among them center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, one of the brightest young stars in Major League Baseball.
Even though 2025 was not his rookie campaign, Crow-Armstrong burst onto the scene as a future MLB superstar last season. He won a Gold Glove, was named a National League All-Star, and became one of the youngest players ever to post a 30-30 season.
And even though he had a dismal second half, ESPN’s respected insider Buster Olney placed him incredibly high on his top-10 center fielders list.
Chicago Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong is listed as second-best center fielder in baseball
MLB: Boston Red Sox at Chicago Cubs
Jul 20, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) catches a fly ball hit by Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (not pictured) during the eighth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Over the last few weeks, Olney has been putting out top-10 lists for each position in baseball. Today, he released his list of the best center fielders in the game. Crow-Armstrong came in second:
“His monthly offensive performance last season ranged from a nearly 1.000 OPS (.984 in July) to under .500 (.446 in August), but all the while, he was a plus-plus defender and baserunner who accumulated 72 extra-base hits (including 31 homers), 35 steals, 91 runs and 6.0 WAR.
“Cubs manager Craig Counsell suggested last season that PCA might be the best overall defender in baseball, and while Ceddanne Rafaela, Patrick Bailey and Bobby Witt Jr. each might have some claim to that title, Crow-Armstrong’s impact for his pitchers is undeniable. PCA’s acute splits vs. lefties and righties are a concern:”
Vs. right-handers: .271/.315/.523
Vs. lefties: .188/.217/.372
Clearly, Crow-Armstrong needs to improve how he fares when facing left-handed pitching. But he is still just 23 years old and has more development to do.
If he can put together a more consistent offensive season and cut down on his strikeouts, there is no reason to think he will not take over number one on this list in the future.
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