Chicago Cubs prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong to add versatility to his resume
Chicago Cubs general manager Carter Hawkins hinted during a radio interview with 670 The Score in Chicago earlier this week that prized prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong could make it to the big leagues this season when he said that the outfielder was "in the conversation" for a possible call-up later this year.
If the Cubs do bring up Crow-Armstrong this year, he’ll be ready for whatever role the team places him in.
Iowa Cubs manager Marty Pevey said Saturday that Crow-Armstrong, the top prospect in the organization, according to MLB Pipeline, will start playing both corner outfield spots next week. The move could be another hint to a possible promotion later in the year.
At the very least, it'll make Crow-Armstrong, a Minor League Baseball Gold Glove winner in center field last season, more versatile.
“He needs to get out there in the corner,” Pevey said.
It’s not the first time the 21-year-old Crow-Armstrong has played other outfield spots. He appeared in three games in right and five in left while in Double-A with the Tennessee Smokies before being promoted to Triple-A Iowa at the start of the month.
But the latest move comes after Hawkins hinted that Crow-Armstrong could come to Chicago this season and could be a preview of what’s to come if they do.
“I understand that when I do get called up, if it’s this year specifically, I’ll be playing a role,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I’m not going to just go in and be the centerfielder. I’m going there to provide and contribute in any way that I can to give us the best chance to win ball games.”
More: The only one not buying into the hype of Pete Crow-Armstrong: Crow-Armstrong
Crow-Armstrong certainly could provide a big boost to the Cubs if they decide to bring him up in September when rosters expand to 28 players. Chicago could call upon him to add to their defense or possibly provide some speed off the bench.
While Crow-Armstrong is early in his Triple-A tenure, he’s already made a compelling case for a big-league promotion.
The youngster, who was a part of the deal that sent Javier Baez to the Mets, entered Saturday’s game hitting .298/.412/.561 with three doubles and four home runs with Iowa. Earlier in the week, Crow-Armstrong belted a walk-off homer and on Friday, extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
“I think it’s a really smart play by the org,” Crow-Armstrong. “And like I said, I know that I’m going to be stepping into a role if it is this year. I think anything that we can do here to prepare myself for that, then that’s the right way to go about it.”
Crow-Armstrong said he heard about Hawkins' comments about a potential promotion but said he wasn't letting it affect his mindset moving forward. His focus right now is in Iowa and helping the Triple-A team win.
"It doesn't mean anything until it happens," Crow-Armstrong said. "I think the goal is to keep improving here and set myself up for success when I get up there and have myself as prepared as possible for when I'm up there."
Tommy Birch, the Register's sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He's the 2018 and 2020 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Cubs prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong to start playing corner OF spots
