Pete Crow-Armstrong Secures 2026 National League MVP Honors

Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong hit 45 home runs and recorded 31 stolen bases to become the runaway favorite for the 2026 NL MVP.

Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong emerged as the runaway favorite for the 2026 National League MVP award after a mid-season offensive transformation. Over his final 119 games, the 24-year-old slashed .294/.393/.638 with 41 home runs, 31 stolen bases, and 70 walks. He finished the season with 45 total home runs, a significant increase from the 31 he recorded in 2025. This production followed a quiet start to the year where he batted .238 with a .679 OPS through the first six weeks.

According to hitting coach John Mallee, the turning point occurred during a mid-May matchup against Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale. The Cubs moved Crow-Armstrong closer to the plate to improve his coverage against left-handed pitching. During that game, he went 1-for-2 against Sale, including a single on a 97 mph pitch. To further refine his timing, Crow-Armstrong reintroduced a leg kick and lowered his back elbow during drills to eliminate swing slack.

Plate discipline served as a primary catalyst for the breakout. After recording a 41.7% chase rate in 2025, Crow-Armstrong increased his early-season walk total from six in 2025 to nine in the same period of 2026. Mallee implemented a strategy requiring the hitter to stay on fastballs and force pitchers to throw three strikes with breaking balls. The Cubs also moved Crow-Armstrong into the leadoff spot following these adjustments.

Off the field, the 6-foot, 184-pound outfielder trained with Kyle Henmi of Dawg Pound Athletics to maximize rotational force and plyometric snap rather than bulk muscle. Crow-Armstrong signed a six-year, $115 million contract extension prior to the start of this 2026 campaign.