Cubs fans will love what Pete Crow-Armstrong just said about 2026 goals

From the moment he arrived at the Friendly Confines in late 2023, Chicago Cubs fans knew Pete Crow-Armstrong had the potential to be an electric player. Yet, the first half of 2025 defied imagination. His defense and speed were as spectacular as advertised, but his evolution into a hitter to be feared, with a .265/.302/.544/131 wRC+ slash line, 25 home runs, and 27 stolen bases turned him into the team's first homegrown superstar in years. It earned him his first All-Star Game selection and early attention as a credible threat to Shohei Ohtani in MVP conversations.

Of course, the second half left much to be desired for Seiya Suzuki's bash brother. A 72 wRC+ with only eight stolen bases and six home runs made it clear there was still room to grow. The most glaring issue was his batting average and on-base percentage, which fell to .216 and .262, respectively. For the entire season, those numbers ended at .247 and .287, ultimately dragging him down to a 109 wRC+ despite slugging .481. This wasn't an issue of strikeouts — his 24% strikeout rate is less than two points worse than league average — but of an abysmal 41.7% chase rate that led to worse contact and far too few walks.

PCA shouldn't fundamentally change the way he plays, but it was hard not to see how those chases were affecting his game. After all, he's at his best when either he's squaring up the ball and turning would-be singles and doubles into doubles and triples, or when he's getting on base where he can terrorize defenses with his base stealing. Nobody knows that better than the man himself, though.

At Cubs Convention over the weekend, he stopped by for a chat with 670 the Score, where he said that bringing the batting average and on-base percentage up is a priority in 2026. "I think I still have the ability to go hit .290 and do a little bit better job of that OBP number," he shared. It's all about getting back to his roots as a ballplayer while still keeping the power he flashed in 2025.

Pete Crow-Armstrong can be a five-tool threat with the Cubs

For any fans frustrated with his swing decisions, that's exactly what you want to hear. Average and OBP were parts of PCA's game that haven't really translated to the majors so far. In 2023, his last full season in the minors between Double-A and Triple-A, he slashed .283/.365/.511, sporting a walk rate over double that of his 2025 season. A big challenge, as he said, has been adjusting to the talent level of MLB, and nowhere was that more evident than under the bright lights of the postseason.

A version of PCA that can marry the on-base ability he showed in the minors with the power that made his excellent 30-30 season a possibility would be among the most valuable players in baseball. He'd be a true five-tool player for the Cubs to build around for years to come. Fixing that problem in one offseason is a nigh impossible order, but he's young, and he has plenty of other ways to bring value to the team as he continues to grow.

The Cubs have also built a solid enough offense to accommodate any growing pains. Kyle Tucker may be gone, but in his place is Alex Bregman, who slashed .273/.360/.462 with a 125 wRC+ in 114 games with the Red Sox last year. Bregman has also been hailed for his leadership, making a massive impact with Boston's young players in his lone season out east. As Justin Turner did for PCA last year, the third baseman looks to be a positive force in his development, and he wasted no time connecting with the young superstar and instilling confidence in him.

PCA has the structure around him to accomplish his goals for 2026. He's focusing his efforts in the right place, and the Cubs could be much better for it in the end as he continues to embrace his role as the face of the team.