Pete Crow-Armstrong Finally Promoted to AAA
Pete Crow-Armstrong accumulated 342 plate appearances at Double-A Tennessee, which was probably around 100 more than necessary to prove he was ready for a new challenge. It appears the Cubs finally agree with those who’ve been clamoring for his promotion since at least early July, as he is being promoted to Des Moines for the Iowa Cubs’ next homestand.
It's not trade news, but a source tells me Cubs top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong is being promoted to Triple-A Iowa. He's crushed Tennessee of late and really taken on the challenges player development have given him. 150 wRC+ with 11.9% walk rate since May 23.
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) July 31, 2023
The top-ranked prospect in the Cubs system is up to No. 7 overall according to MLB Pipeline and he’s now just one step away from the majors. A September call-up isn’t out of the question, though PCA’s timeline may now be tied more even more closely to the big club’s performance in August. Should the Cubs keep rolling and get themselves even closer to a playoff spot, there likely won’t be everyday playing time for the phenom.
He’ll get his shot next season, however, as the 21-year-old really doesn’t have much left to prove in the minors. I mean, sure, the Cubs want him to see the kind of junk he’ll face on the regular in Triple-A, but it’s always been the glove that leads his value. That isn’t to discount the bat, which has displayed a lot more power than most experts believed it would early on.
Even among other elite athletes, Crow-Armstrong’s kinesthetic awareness — body control to the layperson — stands out. He’ll be able to adjust at the highest level even without a wealth of experience at Iowa, of that I have little doubt. And when you play defense in center at an 80-grade level, there’s leeway for the offensive side of things to come along.
My last thought here is that PCA’s ascendance should in no way alter the Cubs’ thinking when it comes to Cody Bellinger, who they should absolutely look at bringing back in free agency. Promote and keep the best players, then figure out where they need to play.
