Cubs’ Elite Prospect Major Contender for NL Rookie of the Year
The Chicago Cubs have one of the top prospects in baseball in outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. He got a taste of the Majors last September, and the belief among many is that he has a chance to be the Cubs’ starting center fielder in 2024.
In fact, one MLB Pipeline analyst is so bullish on Crow-Armstrong that he believes big things are ahead for him next season.
In an article that features the site’s top two prospect analysts, Jonathan Mayo predicted that Crow-Armstrong would be named the NL Rookie of the Year. Why?
"[Crow-Armstrong is] coming off of a 20/30 season in the Minors. We know about his defense. The defense and speed will keep him in the lineup every single day, and he’s going to contribute, and I think he’s going to hit enough for the counting numbers that a lot of people pay attention to [and that] will matter. I think his combination of talent and opportunity made him a solid, albeit, far from slam-dunk pick for me.
Indeed, MLB Pipeline’s No. 12 prospect had a tremendous year in the minors, which started at Double-A Tennessee, followed by a promotion to Triple-A Iowa before he was called up to the Majors on Sept. 11.
The former first-round pick of the New York Mets slashed .283/.365/.511/.876 with 26 doubles, seven triples, 20 home runs and 82 RBI. He also stole 37 bases. While in the minors, he won a Gold Glove in 2022.
With the Cubs, he failed to get a hit in 14 at-bats. He did drive in a run, scored three runs, walked twice and stole two bases. He also struck out seven times.
The Cubs have seven outfielders listed on their 40-man roster — Crow-Armstrong, Kevin Alcántara, Alexander Canario, Brennen Davis, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and Mike Tauchman. Happ won a Gold Glove in November.
If the Cubs are unable to lure Cody Bellinger back to Chicago, it’s likely that Crow-Armstrong gets every opportunity to win the starting center field job for Opening Day.
