Chicago Cubs top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong promoted to Triple-A Iowa Cubs
As Pete Crow-Armstrong tore apart opposing pitching with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies and played highlight-reel defense on a nightly basis, the anticipation over the Chicago Cubs’ top prospect’s arrival in Iowa only grew.
The wait is finally over.
Crow-Armstrong, the No. 1 prospect in the Cubs organization and one of the best in all of baseball, is being promoted to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told the Register. The 21-year-old is expected to be in uniform Tuesday night when Iowa begins a six-game series against the Toledo Mud Hens at Principal Park.
It’s a gigantic addition to an Iowa roster that already includes some of the top pitching prospects in the Cubs system in Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks. Now, Chicago’s top minor-league affiliate has added Crow-Armstrong, ranked No. 1 in the organization and No. 7 in baseball by MLB Pipeline.
The excitement and accolades for Crow-Armstrong come for good reason. The outfielder comes to Iowa after hitting .289/.371/.527 with 19 doubles, five triples and 14 homers in 73 games with the Smokies. Crow-Armstrong will now face Triple-A pitching for the first time in his career.
He seems more than ready for it. Crow-Armstrong is no stranger to the big stage. He’s been in the spotlight ever since the New York Mets selected him in the first round of the 2020 draft with the 19th overall pick.
Crow-Armstrong’s first pro season ended after just six games when he tore the labrum in his non-throwing shoulder during a game in May 2021. Later that year, the Mets shipped him off to the Cubs in exchange for star shortstop Javier Baez and pitcher Trevor Williams.
Baez went on to sign with the Detroit Tigers. Crow-Armstrong went on to become a potential cornerstone for the Cubs. In addition to Crow-Armstrong’s breakout performances at the plate, he’s widely considered one of the best gloves in minor-league baseball.
The left-handed hitting and throwing Crow-Armstrong appeared in back-to-back All-Star Futures Games and won a MiLB Gold Glove in 2022. His success since coming to the Cubs has had fans eagerly monitoring his rise through the minor leagues.
Crow-Armstrong is now on the last level of that journey, one step away from Wrigley Field and the big leagues.
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. Follow him on Twitter @TommyBirch.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Pete Crow-Armstrong, top prospect in Cubs system, promoted to AAA Iowa
