(670 The Score) The Cubs on Friday optioned 21-year-old outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong to Triple-A Iowa amid a series of cuts from their spring training roster.
Crow-Armstrong heading to Triple-A to start the season wasn't a surprise after the Cubs had on multiple occasions stressed the need for him to get regular at-bats. That type of role wasn't going to be available for him on the big league club after star Cody Bellinger returned to the Cubs on a new three-year deal. The versatile Bellinger is set to be the Cubs' starting center fielder as the club wants to give recently acquired 26-year-old Michael Busch plenty of playing time at first base.
Crow-Armstrong was hitting .160 (4-of-25) with a .222 on-base percentage and .502 OPS in 11 games this spring. He was 0-for-14 at the plate in limited playing time toward the end of the 2023 season.
The Cubs also optioned right-hander Ben Brown, infielder Luis Vazquez and outfielder Brennen Davis to Triple-A. The talented 24-year-old Brown could factor into the Cubs' bullpen mix later in the season.
In other roster cuts, the Cubs optioned right-hander Michael Arias, right-hander Porter Hodge and outfielder Kevin Alcantara to Double-A Tennessee and reassigned right-hander Ethan Roberts, right-hander Riley Thompson, catcher Pablo Aliendo, infielder Matt Shaw and outfielder Owen Caissie to minor league camp.
The Cubs' roster now sits at 50 players.
