Pete Crow-Armstrong started the Cubs’ season in an exciting way.
On Thursday night, he helped the Cubs win 10-6 against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix. He scored two runs, got one hit, walked once, and stole a base.
Before the game, Cubs president Jed Hoyer told 670 The Score what Crow-Armstrong needed to improve.
“He plays with great energy and emotion,” Hoyer said on the Spiegel & Holmes Show. “As he learns to control his at-bats, he will become a great player.”
The 22-year-old struggled at first in his 2023 MLB debut, failing to get a hit in 14 at-bats with seven strikeouts. But last season, he improved, hitting .237 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs in 123 games.
Crow-Armstrong’s performance in the 2025 U.S. opener was better than his struggles in the MLB Tokyo Series, where he struck out three times against the Dodgers.
Hoyer explained that facing MLB pitchers is tough, and young players need to stay confident.
“That’s the challenge in this game,” Hoyer said. “The pitching is always strong. You can’t let one bad swing or at-bat bring you down. You have to focus on the next one.”
He also said that having experienced players like Justin Turner in the clubhouse will help Crow-Armstrong develop.
Turner, a veteran hitter, has already started mentoring him. Hoyer believes the key for Crow-Armstrong is to relax and stay focused during his at-bats.
“He has all the talent and is exciting to watch,” Hoyer said. “If he can slow the game down and take it one pitch at a time, he will become a great player.”
Leave a Reply