If you’re a casual fan, you may have already gotten off on the wrong foot with Pete Crow-Armstrong. The Cubs’ 24-year-old centerfielder is objectively the sixth-most valuable player in the big leagues. This is because he ranks 6th among all players (pitchers included) in Wins Above Replacement, which is essentially the MLB’s ‘total value’ stat.
Despite the fact that he could be running the outside lane of an MVP race, fans nationwide simply don’t recognize his talent. He became the digital punching bag of baseball fandom this season, and there’s little justification for it.
On social media hotspots for baseball talk, most notably X and the Real Sports App, PCA is routinely criticized. These critics label him a fluke, a clown, overrated, or not a franchise player. Drew Richard, host of our “BSBLR Show”, put it simply:
“If you go on [X], you will think he’s the worst player of all time. You will think he’s terrible and can’t make a play. Watch. A. Baseball game.”
– Drew Richard (Via the BSBLR Show)
One moment on May 30th in St. Louis captured this story perfectly. The Cardinals’ infamous ‘Tarps Off’ section in right field passionately chanted “overrated” during PCA’s at-bat. He would respond with the hardest-hit ball of his career, a 444-foot missile directly into the overrated chants. PCA finished the night 4-5, just a triple shy of the cycle.
“OV-ER-RA-TED”
Pete Crow-Armstrong writes the latest chapter in a storied rivalry 😮 pic.twitter.com/6VNEymkvPM
— MLB (@MLB) May 31, 2026
However, Crow-Armstrong’s stardom is more than just one game— it shows up in all 162. Let’s dig into what makes him a star, and why the “overrated” chants couldn’t be farther from the truth.
The best glove in the sport
While the offensive side can be electric, Crow-Armstrong will forever be known for his centerfield defense. And no, that isn’t a knock on his bat or baserunning at all. Since 2025, PCA leads all fielders with a ridiculous +34 Fielding Run Value.
His defensive mastery starts with (but doesn’t end with) his unreal range. Since 2025, he also leads all defenders in Outs Above Average with a staggering +24. The next-best outfielder is Ceddanne Rafaela with +21, and then Victor Scott II with +17. It’s clear that PCA’s defense resides in a one-man tier.
Additionally, despite his 6′ 0″, 184-pound frame, Crow-Armstrong also leads all outfielders in Arm Value. His competitive throws average a 92.2 mph velocity from center field, which ranks in the top-20 among all players.
In 2024, before he broke out, Crow-Armstrong was roughly 14% worse than a league-average hitter, with an 86 wRC+. Regardless, he posted 2.6 WAR in 123 games, which actually made him an above-average player that year.
However, from 2024-now, PCA grew to be much more than a gold glove centerfielder.
Hitting his way into MVP conversations
In 2025, Pete Crow-Armstrong started to hit extremely well. Few saw it coming. The expectation that his 2024 season previewed was simple: He’s lightning-fast and defensively sound— any real production at the plate is a bonus.
Well, a 31-homer season in 2025 blew that theory out of the water. Crow-Armstrong had 25 home runs before the All-Star break, which prompted him into literal MVP talks alongside Shohei Ohtani. While he cooled down in the second half, it was more than enough to reach the star quota.
This year, Crow-Armstrong started slow, but quickly found the power stroke once again. He’s up to 11 home runs on the season, after his thrilling two-homer performance against the San Francisco Giants on Saturday. Overall, he’s hitting .259 with a .343 OBP, .448 SLG, and .791 OPS.
PCA WITH TWO OUTS IN THE NINTH 😱
It’s a brand new ballgame! pic.twitter.com/LvIVspITJB
— MLB (@MLB) June 6, 2026
In terms of wRC+, PCA is posting a mark of 124. This means that he’s roughly 24% better than an average hitter, on top of stealing 13 bases and playing the best defense in the entire league.
Sounds like a pretty good player, no?
For some (somehow), it’s still a no.
The common doubting points, and why they’re false
While most PCA criticism isn’t backed by numbers, there are some who actually defend the overrated claims. Here’s what pops up most often, and also, why it shouldn’t pop up in 2026.
1. “His OBP is low”
In 2025, this was fair to point out. Pete Crow-Armstrong finished the year with a .287 OBP, which ranked near the bottom of the league. While his power production made up for it, some didn’t appreciate his avoidance of the walk.
Why it’s false: In 2026, PCA’s walk rate has nearly doubled (4.5 » 8.5%), and his on-base percentage jumped to .343. In May alone, his walk rate climbed to 10.7%. That’s a changed approach, not just a blip in the numbers.
2. “He chases everything— and pitchers figured that out”
Undoubtedly, Crow-Armstrong is an aggressive swinger, and chase will always be a part of his game in some capacity. His chase rate across the past two years typically sits in the bottom 10% of hitters.
Why it’s false: In May, his chase rate dropped to 30.7%, just a few ticks above league average. His swing rate as a whole dropped in the month, and his whiff and strikeout rates have followed. He’s still 24 years old, and pitch selection is the most common age-related improvement for hitters. He’ll only get better.
3. “He’s a one-half hitter — his slump defines him”
In the first half of 2025, PCA was absolutely electric. However, in the second half he regressed to a .634 OPS, which drew severe concern about the legitimacy of his breakout.
Why it’s false: In 2026, Crow-Armstrong’s overall hard-hit rate jumped from 46.8% » 53.8%, and his average exit velocity jumped from 91.2 » 92.4 mph. His average bat speed climbed a full 2 mph as well, which bodes extremely well for his power output. The improved metrics indicate that good results are more sustainable.
4. “He can’t hit left-on-left”
Again, 2025 saw him struggle with lefties severely, as he put up just a .593 OPS against same-sided pitching. This issue forced his season OPS down below .800.
Why it’s false: 2026 has been a completely different story for PCA. He owns a .813 OPS against left-handed pitching this season, and it’s only been better as of late. He’s hitting .289 against southpaws with 3 homers in 95 plate appearances.