Armstrong went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in Monday's Cactus League game against the Mariners and is now batting just .154 this spring.
Crow-Armstrong is one of the Cubs' top prospects, though he's yet to appear above the High-A level, so he's likely still a few years away from the majors. The 20-year-old should still benefit from the experience against MLB pitching, and he'll look to hit the ground running in the minors this season. Crow-Armstrong will likely spend the bulk of the year with Double-A Tennessee.
Crow-Armstrong hit .312/.376/.520 with 16 homers, 32 steals (on 43 tries) and a 36:102 BB:K over 101 games split between Single-A and High-A in 2022.
Crow-Armstrong was much better across 39 games in Single-A (.998 OPS) than in the 63 games he played in High-A (.832 OPS), but he closed out the season on a heater, batting .362/.408/.543 over his final 23 games. Notably, Crow-Armstrong struck out at just an 18.4 percent clip over that stretch -- a huge improvement over the nearly 30 percent figure he was sitting on in High-A before then. That said, he also drew just three walks in that span, so he clearly still has some work to do. Nonetheless, Crow-Armstrong has impressive tools and makeup, making him one of the Cubs' top prospects. He's still a couple years away from the big leagues, though.
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Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong: Heavy strikeout numbers in High-A
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Crow-Armstrong has hit .253 with eight homers, 13 steals and a .791 OPS in 42 games since his promotion to High-A South Bend, but he's also struck out 51 times in 196 plate appearances -- a 28.6 percent clip.
His whiffing issues have been even more pronounced recently, as Crow-Armstrong has a 32.9 percent strikeout rate across his last 18 games. The 20-year-old outfielder also has a meager 5.7 percent walk rate at the higher level. Crow-Armstrong was far better on both counts earlier this season in Single-A, where he struck out at a terrific 17.6 percent clip while posting a 12.4 percent walk rate. While his power and speed have remained intact -- he's now up to 16 homers and 27 steals -- Crow-Armstrong clearly has to make some adjustments to get his plate discipline back on track.
Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong: Returning to action Saturday
Rotowire
Crow-Armstrong (hand) will return to the lineup at High-A South Bend on Saturday, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Crow-Armstrong sustained a bruise on the back of his hand last week but will bat leadoff and play center field Saturday after missing two weeks. Over nine games since being promoted to South Bend, the 20-year-old has hit .205 with two homers, a triple, three doubles, seven runs and five RBI.
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Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong: Dealing with hand injury
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Crow-Armstrong is dealing with a hand injury and is expected to be sidelined for a week or two, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The specifics of the injury remain unclear, but it's apparently not a serious concern since Crow-Armstrong is expected to make a relatively quick return. The 20-year-old had a .998 OPS with Single-A Myrtle Beach to start the season and was promoted to High-A South Bend, but he's struggled through nine games at the higher level with a .692 OPS and 30.8 percent strikeout rate.
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Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong: Decent start at High-A
Rotowire
Crow-Armstrong is slashing .238/.238/.571 with two doubles, a triple, a home run, three RBI and four runs scored through five games with High-A South Bend.
Crow-Armstrong moved up a level on May 30, and the 20-year-old has understandably slowed down a bit after slashing .354/.443/.557 with seven home runs and 13 stolen bases across 38 games with Single-A Myrtle Beach. He hasn't drawn a walk yet for South Bend after recording 22 walks in his time with Myrtle Beach, but the top prospect is still sporting a respectable .809 OPS at the new level thanks to his four extra-base hits in just the five contests. If Crow-Armstrong continues to drive the ball and also starts to tally some free passes, his slash line will only trend upward, and another promotion could be in order later this year.
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Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong: Advances to High-A
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Crow-Armstrong was promoted to High-A South Bend on Monday, Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Crow-Armstrong demolished Single-A pitching through 38 games for Myrtle Beach, slashing .354/.443/.557. He added seven homers and 13 steals, while his 18.0 percent strikeout rate and 12.0 percent walk rate both represented strong marks. He'll face a tougher test at South Bend, but another promotion later in the year can't be ruled out if he continues to find success.
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Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong: Showing all five tools
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Crow-Armstrong is hitting .326/.463/.581 with two home runs, seven steals, eight strikeouts and eight walks in 11 games at Single-A Myrtle Beach.
The 20-year-old center fielder whom the Cubs acquired for Javier Baez at last year's trade deadline is hitting .358 with a .500 OBP, two home runs and nine steals in 67 career at-bats at Single-A. Crow-Armstrong missed most of last season after needing shoulder surgery. He has the look of a future five-category contributor and should soon get the bump to High-A.
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Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong: Enters camp without restrictions
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Crow-Armstrong said Thursday that he has no restrictions during spring training and is "doing great" in his recovery from the surgery he required last May to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. "The most exciting part is he's hitting the ball as hard as ever right now," Cubs vice president of player development Jared Banner said of Crow-Armstrong. "So it's great to just have him healthy again.'"
Even though he has yet to make his organizational debut, Crow-Armstrong was the main prize in the trade package the Cubs received last July in the deadline deal that sent Javier Baez and Trevor Williams to the Mets. While he only appeared in six games at the Low-A level before getting surgery, Crow-Armstrong produced an 1.063 OPS in those contests while drawing positive reviews for his work as a defender in center field. He nabbed only two stolen bases on five attempts, but the soon-to-be 20-year-old is viewed as a plus baserunner who could eventually prove to be an asset in the steals category. Assuming Crow-Armstrong escapes the spring without any setbacks, the Cubs will likely assign him to Low-A Myrtle Beach to begin the season, but a promotion to High-A South Bend could come quickly if he's able to pick up where he left off prior to suffering the injury.
Crow-Armstrong (shoulder) is part of the trade package the Mets are sending to the Cubs for Javier Baez and Trevor Williams, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Crow-Armstrong underwent surgery on his right (non-throwing) shoulder to address a glenoid labral articulate disruption (GLAD) in May and isn't expected to play again this season, but he's a big get for the Cubs as one of the Mets' top prospects. He was drafted 19th overall in the 2020 draft and received his first taste of professional ball this year at Low-A St. Lucie, going 10-for-24 with two doubles, seven walks, four RBI, six runs and two stolen bases in six games.
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Mets' Pete Crow-Armstrong: Shoulder surgery ordered up
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The Mets announced Tuesday that Crow-Armstrong will require surgery on his right (non-throwing) shoulder to address a glenoid labral articulate disruption (GLAD) lesion, Justin Toscano of The Bergen Record reports.
New York didn't offer up a firm timetable for the 19-year-old outfield prospect's return to action, but he'll most likely end up missing most, if not all, of the 2021 season due to the procedure. According to Toscano, the Mets determined Crow-Armstrong would require surgery after an MRI revealed a tear of the labrum in his right shoulder as well as an injury to the articulate cartilage. Crow-Armstrong, the 19th overall pick in the 2020 first-year player draft, was off to a fast start to his professional career, going 10-for-24 with a pair of stolen bases in his first six games at Low-A St. Lucie.
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Mets' Pete Crow-Armstrong: Out with shoulder injury
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Crow-Armstrong was placed on the minor-league injured list Thursday due to a jammed right shoulder, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
It's not clear how long the 19-year-old will be sidelined, but the Mets aren't likely to take any chances with him. Crow-Armstrong, a first-round pick in 2020, was off to a flying start to begin his pro career, slashing .417/.563/.500 through six games for Low-A St. Lucie with two doubles, two steals (on five attempts) and a 7:6 BB:K.
