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Cubs standout Pete Crow-Armstrong entered the game Thursday with 45 home runs, and he made a strong case for National League Most Valuable Player when he stole his 40th base, officially joining the prestigious 40-40 club.
After walking to lead off the bottom of the first inning, Crow-Armstrong quickly dashed for second, easily beating the throw from catcher Brian Navarreto. The crowd at Wrigley Field erupted in cheers.
With dirt smudged on his white pinstriped jersey, he stood up and tipped his helmet to the enthusiastic fans.
This remarkable achievement made Crow-Armstrong the seventh player in MLB history to join the 40-40 club, following in the footsteps of players like Shohei Ohtani (2024), Ronald Acuña Jr. (2023), and Alex Rodriguez (1998), to name a few.
With Ohtani’s recent struggles due to injury, Crow-Armstrong has emerged as the clear frontrunner for NL MVP, especially given his remarkable run this season.
As of Thursday, the 24-year-old boasts an impressive .280 batting average alongside a .373 on-base percentage and a .577 slugging percentage, with those 45 homers, 107 RBIs, and now 40 steals. He also brings outstanding defense to the table.
Statcast ranks him as MLB’s most valuable defender, showcasing a 27 fielding run value.
“This is the best position-player season I’ve ever witnessed in my career,” commented Cubs president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer. “He’s going to win the MVP, the Hank Aaron Award, and the Platinum Glove. Honestly, to me, that’s more impressive than any Triple Crown discussion.”
Crow-Armstrong was the 19th overall pick by the Mets in the 2020 MLB Draft, later being traded to Chicago in 2022 as part of a deal involving infielder Javier Baez and pitcher Trevor Williams.
He briefly appeared in the 2023 and 2024 seasons before breaking out in 2025 with 31 home runs and 95 RBIs, solidifying his spot in the Cubs’ roster.
This year, he has solidified his status among Major League Baseball’s elite, positioning himself to be the Cubs’ first regular-season MVP since Kris Bryant achieved the honor in 2016.
