Pete Crow-Armstrong became the first player in Chicago Cubs history to have back-to-back seasons of at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases, and the 2026 National League MVP contender could not have picked a better time to accomplish the feat. The star center fielder began Monday’s series opener against the White Sox with a home run on the very first pitch from Luis Castillo, and in the 10th inning, with both teams tied at five, Crow-Armstrong ended it by slugging a Hagen Smith slider over the right-field wall at Wrigley Field.
Home runs No. 29 and 30 cemented Crow-Armstrong not only in Cubs history, but he also joined yet another elite club in all of MLB history.
The 24-year-old is now the 10th player in MLB history to go 30/30 in consecutive seasons, joining the company of Barry Bonds, Willie Mays, and Vladimir Guerrero Sr among others. Crow-Armstrong is now also the second player to ever have two straight 30/30 seasons at age-24 or younger, alongside Bobby Witt Jr.
After going 4-for-5, with two home runs, a double, and three RBI, Crow-Armstrong now has a season slash line of .281/.379/.550. His 8.2 fWAR is lapping the entire field.
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We’ve been saying this since last year, but the gigantic strides taken by Crow-Armstrong this year in his plate discipline make it more true. Cubs fans are being treated to a special player, and this year specifically, they might be witnessing the best season a Cubs player has ever had when you take into account that Crow-Armstrong is also the best defensive player in the game.
What a talent. And it’s gotten to the point where, as a Cubs fan, you just have to love reveling in the haters.
Take a bow, Pete.
One last fun fact from Monday night’s wild game. You have to go back all the way to 1957 to find the last time a player hit the first pitch of the game for a home run and the last pitch of the game for a walk-off home run.
Via OptaSTATS.
Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs is the first MLB player with a leadoff HR on the first pitch his team saw and a walkoff HR on the last pitch his team saw in a game since Vic Power did so for the Kansas City A’s against the Orioles on May 7, 1957.
Right now, there shouldn’t be a question as to who the NL MVP should be. It’s Pete Crow-Armstrong.
