A locked-in Cubs outfield picture could tie one hand behind Jed Hoyer's back

Hopefully this was just the beginning for Pete Crow-Armstrong

As is often the case with rookies, it took some time for Pete Crow-Armstrong to settle in at the plate. But when he did, the numbers spoke for themselves. In the second half, the defensive wizard turned the corner with the bat, posting a .262 average - a nearly 60-point jump over what he did before the All-Star Break.

From Aug. 2 on, Crow-Armstrong boasted an .816 OPS that, when paired with his glovework in center field and his elite baserunning abilities, made him one of the most impactful players in baseball. He'll head into 2025 as the starting center fielder and if he can build on the strides he made in the second half, PCA could be an offensive catalyst for Counsell at the bottom of the order.

When Crow-Armstrong and catcher Miguel Amaya turned the corner at the plate this summer, the Cubs' offense transformed into something with tremendous depth and potential. A catching upgrade and another strong campaign from PCA could go a long way toward helping Chicago punch its postseason ticket.