The Chicago Cubs and their fans thought they had a future superstar when they acquired Pete Crow-Armstrong from the New York Mets in a 2021 trade involving Javier Baez. Crow-Armstrong has shown promise, earning an MLB promotion in 2023 with hopes of making a significant impact this season.
However, he has struggled, hitting just .212/.259/.298 with one home run in 43 games. This disappointing performance has led some industry professionals to claim they were right about his limitations. According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today, scouts are now saying “I told you so” about Crow-Armstrong being overhyped.
“MLB scouts have insisted all season that Chicago Cubs prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong may not be the impact bat that’s been hyped, and so far they’ve been proven correct,” Nightengale writes, noting his .200 average and .570 OPS.
Concerns about Crow-Armstrong’s ability to handle MLB pitching have existed, but his minor league success earned him a shot in the majors. It’s uncommon for players to immediately excel after being promoted, unlike Evan Carter, who helped the Texas Rangers win their first World Series shortly after his call-up. Yet, even Carter is struggling this season, hitting .188/.272/.361.
Crow-Armstrong may need more time to adjust to the MLB level. Critics and scouts should perhaps hold off on final judgments regarding his young career.
