Consistency is the Key for PCA After Up-and-Down Breakout Season
MESA, ARIZONA -- Nico Hoerner's words resonated with Pete Crow-Armstrong, the 23-year-old center fielder, throughout the offseason. It was a season of highs and lows, and Crow-Armstrong's performance reflected that.
After a stellar season with 30 home runs, 30 doubles, and 30 steals, a first in Cubs history, Crow-Armstrong felt a sense of disappointment due to a second-half fade. If his season had been reversed, with a tough first half and a great finish, his perspective would have been different.
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"If I hit 25 homers in the second half, I’d be pretty happy," Crow-Armstrong said. "It doesn’t matter how I do it. Last year, I did what I did. It’s about doing more of it next year. I don’t know how it will happen, but it’s about the work I put in now."
Crow-Armstrong's outgoing personality and dynamic playstyle made him a star for the Cubs' postseason team last year. Cubs president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, noted the season's highs and lows.
The goal this spring is to reduce the dramatic peaks and valleys.
In the first half, Crow-Armstrong showcased his potential with 25 homers, a .544 slugging percentage, and an .846 OPS. His defense and speed contributed to his near-top ranking in MLB's WAR leaderboard. However, after the break, his OPS dropped to .634, largely due to a rough August (.160/.216/.230).
Cubs assistant hitting coach John Mallee has been instrumental in Crow-Armstrong's swing development since his days in Triple-A Iowa. The outfielder sought guidance from Mallee and Ben Martin, the Cubs' assistant director of Major League development, to identify the issues with his swing.
"We noticed when [his] setup was out of whack," Crow-Armstrong said.
When Crow-Armstrong's setup lacked consistency, his swing decisions became more challenging. He ended the season with the highest swing rate (59.5%) among qualified hitters and ranked third in outside-zone swings (45.6%) and swinging-strike rate (16.0%).
Mallee explained that earlier in the year, Crow-Armstrong's patterns were smaller, with a shorter stride and hand separation. As the season progressed and he achieved success, he started deviating from his normal patterns, leading to a longer stride and increased stretching, which negatively impacted his swing-and-miss rate.
Over the offseason, Crow-Armstrong focused on maintaining a consistent setup for every practice swing, a routine he has continued this spring. He has refined his footwork and bat-tapping routine, ensuring precision in his setup.
"It’s about repping out the setup numerous times, so I can let the swing play," Crow-Armstrong said.
The key phrase is 'swing decisions' as Crow-Armstrong aims to improve his on-base percentage (.287) from last season. Pitch recognition often follows when mechanics are aligned. Mallee also noted that Crow-Armstrong's increasing experience with MLB pitchers will enhance game planning and execution.
While walk rate wasn't a specific focus, improving it would be a natural outcome of aligning these concepts. Cubs manager Craig Counsell emphasized the importance of continuous improvement as an offensive player, covering aspects like swing path and pitch-to-pitch emotional regulation.
When Crow-Armstrong reaches his full potential, the sky's the limit, according to Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman, who believes he can achieve anything on the baseball field.
