(670 The Score) While Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer isn’t sure – or perhaps isn’t ready to publicly reveal – exactly when highly touted outfield prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong will be promoted to the big league club, this much he’s sure about.
“We will definitely have the brick wall conversation with him before he plays a game at Wrigley,” Hoyer said on the Mully & Haugh Show on Monday morning.
The 21-year-old Crow-Armstrong has built a strong reputation for his defensive prowess, which has included no fear of colliding with walls in the minor leagues. Soon enough, Crow-Armstrong could be putting his skills on display for the big league Cubs, as rosters will expand from 26 to 28 players on Sept. 1. The Cubs have previously acknowledged that Crow-Armstrong is in strong consideration to be one of their call-ups as they continue to make a playoff push, and while Hoyer on Monday indicated there’s no set plan in place yet, he did continue to shower praise upon Crow-Armstrong.
“The pressure part is not a consideration,” Hoyer said. “We certainly would (have confidence in him to join a playoff contender). I think he’s ready for it in terms of the emotional part of it.
“He’s been outstanding for us in Triple-A. We know he has a super bright future. He’s going to help us win a lot. What we’re going to decide as far as September, we just haven’t yet. And I would even add, the way things work now with the reduced September rosters and people option guys back and forth now during September, you know, September 1 isn’t some magical date where you have to make that decision. It could come at a later point. We just want him to keep playing, keep developing.”
Crow-Armstrong is hitting .258 with four homers, 12 RBIs, six steals and an .825 OPS in 22 games at Triple-A Iowa. He dominated at Double-A Tennessee earlier this season, hitting .289 with 14 homers, 27 steals and an .898 OPS in 73 games there.
You can listen to Hoyer's full interview in the audio player above.
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