CHICAGO (104.3 The Score) — Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has stared down the best pitchers in baseball, tracked down line drives to make amazing defensive plays and executed scintillating slides into home plate. Those moments didn’t compare to the glance he had early Friday afternoon at a row of seats in front of him.
Crow-Armstrong looked into the eyes of his mother, Ashley Crow, and father, Matthew John Armstrong, and shared gratitude for their sacrifices that led him to this point. He then looked over to their side and thanked a group of supporters who have been there for him on his journey to the big leagues – his agent, coaches, teammates and friends.
For all his talents, the 24-year-old Crow-Armstrong knows well that he wouldn’t have signed a six-year, $115-million contract extension with the Cubs without the support of others along the way.
“My hands are a little sweaty,” Crow-Armstrong said, emotions clear in his voice. “This is more nerve-racking than standing in center field.”
If Crow-Armstrong wasn’t a grounded individual, the Cubs may not have been drawn to him like they were back in July 2021, when they acquired him in a trade with the Mets. Cubs assistant general manager Jared Banner had been with the Mets in 2020 when Crow-Armstrong was selected in the first round of that MLB Draft. It was a unique draft given the restrictions that the pandemic created.
Crow-Armstrong was an immensely talented prospect who was selected at No. 19 overall and played just six games in the Mets’ minor league system in 2020 before undergoing shoulder surgery. Banner believed that Crow-Armstrong had the work ethic needed to fulfill his potential. So, the Cubs prioritized him in a trade that sent star shortstop Javier Baez and right-hander Trevor Williams to the Mets for Crow-Armstrong.
Struggles have been a part of Crow-Armstrong's journey. He was 0-for-14 at the plate in a call-up to the big leagues in 2023, then posted a .670 OPS in his first full season a year later. Even as Crow-Armstrong produced an All-Star campaign in 2025, he scuffled in the second half with a .634 OPS.
Through it all, the Cubs have been confident in Crow-Armstrong as a building block, and they know he's far from a finished product. He turned 24 on Wednesday and is seeking consistency in his third full MLB season.
Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer began extension negotiations with Crow-Armstrong back in January 2025. Fourteen months later, Crow-Armstrong has a long-term home and the Cubs have a foundational player.
"He’s a really easy person to invest in,” Hoyer said.
The Cubs have tied Crow-Armstrong's future to that of three-time All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman, two-time All-Star shortstop Dansby Swanson and two-time Gold Glove second baseman Nico Hoerner, who reached an agreement Thursday on a six-year contract extension with the club.
Crow-Armstrong was acquired at the 2021 trade deadline as the Cubs dealt away their 2016 championship core. In turn, he became the next cornerstone player for the franchise.
Crow-Armstrong has the star persona the Cubs have sought since dealing the likes of Baez, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo at that trade deadline. He's a beloved figure who's embraced by the fan base.
Prior to first pitch on Opening Day on Thursday, there was no louder cheer at Wrigley Field than the one for Crow-Armstrong.
“This city means everything to me,” Crow-Armstrong said. “It’s really welcomed me. They’ve been patient with me and my performance. It’s definitely inspiring stuff when I wake up and I think about what I want to achieve every day here.”
The Cubs hope their investment in Crow-Armstrong leads to a World Series championship. Those are the demands that come with a nine-figure contract, but they also remain confident that Crow-Armstrong will continue to ascend into one of the game’s top stars.
When Crow-Armstrong returned home from Wrigley Field on Thursday after the Cubs' disappointing loss to the Nationals, he felt at peace. He had secured his long-term future, and now a new challenge lies ahead.
“That’s what makes me the most emotional when it comes to handling this new thing, is just knowing that I’m really lucky and I get to be in a really, really amazing city, and I get to be around incredible people every single day," Crow-Armstrong said.
“I get to take a lot of pride in playing in front of them, having thousands of people over my shoulder cheering for us.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears and the Chicago sports scene for 104.3 The Score.
Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong signed a six-year, $115-million contract extension with the Cubs.
