Poor Offense Could Stunt Chicago Cubs' Superstar Prospect's Growth

The Chicago Cubs got a little taste of what it would be like with their superstar prospect playing on their Major League roster.

After acquiring Pete Crow-Armstrong in a trade that sent Javier Baez and Trevor Williams to the New York Mets, he was ranked as the Cubs' No. 6 overall prospect in 2022 before catapulting to their top rated prospect in 2023.

Fans and the organization were chomping at the bit to see what he looked like in Chicago, and both got their wish when he made his debut in September 2023.

And while Crow-Armstrong showcased his elite defense, his offensive struggles at the plate were so concerning that it might prevent him from being on the Opening Day roster in 2024.

The Cubs don't want to rush him into an everyday center fielding role and won't thrust him out there if they don't feel he's ready. His 0-14 performance in 19 plate appearances suggests that he's not.

Crow-Armstrong discussed how he's approaching improving his offensive game and why he thinks that will come naturally like it did for him in the minor leagues.

"You’ll start to have more prior information on guys before you face them. I’ll remember what certain guys look like. I’ll see certain guys really well, and others are going to be more of a challenge for me. I think in that sense, it doesn’t really change all that much. I think recognizing that will hopefully set me on that trajectory again," he told Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.

The 21-year-old also knows that Major League Baseball is a different level than he's ever experienced and will have to continue working to improve.

"It’s obviously one thing hearing it word of mouth and then actually standing in the box and doing it. I think that’s pretty clear that there’s a bit of a jump. The learning curve that I’ve had at each level, it’s taken a second. Quicker at some levels than others," he said following his difficult end of the year.

So, Spring Training will be a major opportunity for him to show how far his ability at the plate has come if he wants to make the Opening Day roster.