Pete Crow-Armstrong has hit a rough patch recently, but the Chicago Cubs have plenty of reason to believe the young outfielder’s impressive development is still intact.
Crow-Armstrong’s recent numbers have dipped sharply. Over his last six games, he has hit just .154/.290/.346 and has struck out nearly 39% of the time. Those figures are certainly a concern in the short term, but they don’t erase the significant progress he has made throughout the 2026 season.
In fact, his current slump may simply be a reminder that even elite hitters go through stretches when the results don’t match their overall quality.
The slump hasn’t erased his progress
The recent struggles cover only 31 plate appearances, a relatively small sample compared with the body of work Crow-Armstrong has produced this season.
One encouraging development is that he continues to show patience at the plate. Despite the increased strikeout rate, Crow-Armstrong has drawn five walks during the slump, meaning he has reached base on a walk in roughly 16% of his plate appearances during the stretch.
That is important because it suggests he isn’t simply swinging wildly or completely losing his approach.
For comparison, Crow-Armstrong has walked in approximately 12% of his plate appearances for the season, showing that his improved plate discipline remains part of his offensive development.
His post-All-Star performance was outstanding
Before this recent downturn, Crow-Armstrong was putting together an extraordinary stretch.
Since the All-Star break and before the slump, he had posted a .282/.387/.641 slash line with a 171 wRC+.
Those numbers reflect the transformation he has made as a hitter. Crow-Armstrong has gone from being viewed primarily as a defense-first center fielder with offensive questions to looking increasingly like a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat.
Because that production was so strong, some regression was inevitable.
The important question isn’t whether Crow-Armstrong will struggle occasionally. Every hitter does. The bigger question is whether the current slump represents a fundamental problem or simply a temporary dip.
So far, there isn’t enough evidence to suggest the former.
This isn’t the same hitter Cubs fans saw last year
Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the situation is that Crow-Armstrong’s current struggles don’t resemble the problems he experienced late in the 2025 season.
During that earlier stretch, he appeared overwhelmed and struggled to consistently handle opposing pitching.
This time, however, he is still showing signs of a more mature approach. He’s taking walks, extending at-bats and demonstrating the plate discipline that has helped fuel his breakout season.
That distinction matters.
A young player going through an ordinary slump is very different from a player whose underlying approach has completely fallen apart.
Cubs are giving him some breathing room
Chicago has also found ways to manage Crow-Armstrong’s workload during this difficult stretch.
He has served as the designated hitter twice recently, allowing him to remain in the lineup while getting some time away from the physical demands of playing center field.
The Cubs’ addition of Tyrone Taylor also provides manager Craig Counsell with another capable center-field option. Taylor isn’t simply an extra right-handed bat; his defensive ability gives Chicago the flexibility to give Crow-Armstrong occasional rest without sacrificing too much defensively.
That could prove useful as the season enters its most important stretch.
Cubs still need Crow-Armstrong
The Cubs are chasing the Milwaukee Brewers for the top spot in the National League Central, and Crow-Armstrong is expected to be a major part of that pursuit.
Chicago strengthened its pitching staff at the trade deadline, improving its chances of competing deep into the postseason. But the Cubs will still need their offensive stars to perform if they want to win the division.
Crow-Armstrong has emerged as one of those players.
If he can rediscover the form he showed immediately after the All-Star break, his combination of power, speed, defense and improved plate discipline could make him one of the most important players on the roster down the stretch.
For now, the Cubs have little reason to panic.
Crow-Armstrong’s recent slump is real, but so is the massive growth he has shown this season. The short-term strikeouts are worth monitoring, but his improved approach and ability to continue drawing walks suggest the bigger picture remains extremely encouraging.
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