(670 The Score) Seeking help in their push toward the postseason, the Cubs promoted outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, the organization's top prospect, to the big leagues Monday.
Crow-Armstrong entered as a pinch-runner late in the Cubs’ 5-4 win over the Rockies at Coors Field, then stayed in the game as a defensive replacement in center field and laid down a sacrifice bunt for his first plate appearance at the MLB level.
The Cubs promoted Crow-Armstrong because they believe his skill set can help bolster the team, manager David Ross told the Bernstein & Holmes Show on Tuesday, but Ross added that the focus right now is completely on what Crow-Armstrong can handle and not in any way focused on his development.
“We’re not developing players right now," Ross said. "We’re trying to win games. Pete’s skill set is a real value in these big outfields we’re going to have. Pete will get some at-bats. I think he’ll come in for defensive purposes at times, gives us the flexibility, another Mike Tauchman to insert him in pinch-hit situations like we did last night, and he came through with a big at-bat. We got more roster talent now.
“He’s got some things he’s still got to learn and grow. There are going to be some growing pains, like last night he gets thrown out (stealing) third, some little things that we got to clean up with him. But he’s an exciting young man out there. We’re trying to take advantage of his skill set, and we’ll try to curtail that to help us win ballgames in the middle of competing night in and night out.”
The Cubs acquired Crow-Armstrong from the Mets in 2021 as part of the deal that sent shortstop Javier Baez to New York. The 21-year-old Crow-Armstrong is the 12th-ranked prospect in baseball, according to MLB.com.
Crow-Armstrong hit .283 over 107 games in the minor leagues this season, including 34 games for Triple-A Iowa.
The Cubs take on the Rockies on Tuesday night in the second game of their three-game series in Colorado.