Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has boosted his walk rate and reduced chasing pitches outside the strike zone, turning into one of baseball's top performers entering the second half of the 2026 season.
Crow-Armstrong raised his walk rate from 4.5 percent last season to 11.2 percent this year while lowering his chase percentage by more than six points. He is hitting .291 with a .386 on-base percentage and .531 slugging percentage for a 155 OPS+.
The 24-year-old, who earned his second straight All-Star selection, ranks second in the majors in wins above replacement behind Shohei Ohtani. He is on pace for 36 home runs and 41 stolen bases.
Crow-Armstrong pointed to a three-walk game against the Astros on May 24 as a turning point. He credited conversations with coaches and others for helping him focus on getting on base more often.
His current odds for National League MVP stand at +650, second only to Ohtani.
