Cubs CF Pete Crow-Armstrong Awarded MLB Player of the Year

Chicago Cubs centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has won the 2026 MLB Player of the Year.

by Will Chesanek

Oct 6, 2026

Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4)

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Pete Crow-Armstrong went hitless for the Chicago Cubs in the 2026 MLB Playoffs Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres. Crow-Armstrong went 0-for-7 with a walk in the two games, with Chicago scoring only one run over the two matchups.

Despite the tough end to the season, PCA led the Cubs to an 89-73 regular-season record. The 6-foot-0 center fielder led Major League Baseball with a 9.8 WAR, along with leading the league with 119 runs, 357 total bases and 84 extra-base hits. The Harvard-Westlake School graduate finished tied with Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber for the league-leading 45 home runs, was fourth in RBIs with 107 and finished tied for fourth in stolen bases with 41.

Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4).

Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Although the 24-year-old emerged as an established star last season, being named to the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, his profile skyrocketed this year. Now, with the playoff Division Series beginning, regular-season awards are starting to be doled out. On Monday, the California native received a major award.

On Monday, Baseball America went to the social media website Instagram to announce its 2026 MLB Player of the Year Award winner. It was revealed that Crow-Armstrong had won the MLB Player of the Year Award for 2026.

In the Instagram caption, the publication wrote how PCA became the seventh member of the 40/40 (40 home runs and 40 stolen bases) club, led the league in multiple statistical categories and became the first Cubs player to win the award in the 28-year history of the award.

“Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is Baseball America’s 2026 MLB Player of the Year,” Baseball America wrote on Instagram. “⭐ PCA became the seventh member of the 40 HR/40 SB club this season, en route to leading MLB in HR (45), R (119) and OPS (1.065). In the 28-year history of BA’s MLB Player of the Year award, PCA is the first Chicago Cub to win the honor.”

Chicago fans can look forward to watching Crow-Armstrong at Wrigley Field next season, as the superstar signed a six-year, $115 million contract in March 2026.