DENVER — Cubs top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong curved his route from manager David Ross’ office to swing by third-base coach Willie Harris and first-base coach Mike Napoli’s table in the locker room.
“When should I get with you guys about signs?” he asked.
Crow-Armstrong had come straight to Coors Field from the airport and had barely had time to drop off his bag at his locker and greet his teammates.
“We’ve got time,” Harris said. “We’ve got time. Take it all in, homie.”
The Cubs selected Crow-Armstrong’s contract from Triple-A Iowa on Monday, bringing in the speedy outfielder before their 5-4 victory over the Rockies in which they scored two runs in the ninth inning. The Cubs optioned outfielder Alexander Canario to Triple-A and designated left-hander Anthony Kay for assignment to make room on the active and 40-man rosters, respectively.
“It’s definitely something that I’ve had my mind on for just about all year,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I’ve tried really hard to stay present. But if you’re a determined person and if you’re a competitor, I think that it’s hard not to think about situations like this.”
Harris has been anticipating this moment, too.
“I said in spring training, the best center fielder in the game has arrived,” he told the Sun-Times. “It’s PCA. And he’s going to show everybody that. I mean, his defense is off the charts. And I can’t wait to see it. He just made me one of the best outfield coaches in the game by showing up.”
At-bats have been hard to come by for prospects this month. Canario, whom the Cubs recalled Sept. 1, had only one pinch-hit at-bat.
“I gave him a crappy pinch-hit [situation], to be honest, and gave him one at-bat, and it’s not how you envision your debut going,” Ross said. “But I know he’ll be back.”
Ross said, however, that Crow-Armstrong would “get some starts mixed in,” a promise he never made publicly when the Cubs promoted Canario.
“We’ve got a group of guys who have gotten us here, but he can definitely help us out,” Ross said.
The timing of Crow-Armstrong’s call-up coincides with three games in a ballpark with a notoriously spacious outfield. His addition also gives Ross flexibility to rest corner infielder Jeimer Candelario while he’s day-to-day with back stiffness. Center fielder Cody Bellinger can move to first when Crow-Armstrong plays.
MLB Pipeline ranks Crow-Armstrong as the majors’ No. 12 prospect. The Cubs acquired him from the Mets at the 2021 trade deadline for shortstop Javy Baez and right-hander Trevor Williams.
As Crow-Armstrong has climbed from Double-A to Triple-A this season, the defensive highlights remained a constant. And he has 37 stolen bases. Slashing .283/.365/.511 this year, he already has 20 home runs, four more than last season. In the last week alone, he blasted two grand slams.
He plays with an enthusiasm that has carried him through seemingly impossible plays and sent him crashing into outfield walls. His youth will sometimes show in his decision-making on throws to bases.
“His arm is strong; he wants to show it off,” Harris said. “Sometimes there may not be a play, but he’ll try to make it a play anyway. But that’s why we’re here.”
Crow-Armstrong said he’d periodically receive texts from Harris, reminding him, “Hey, kid, slow down.”
He wasn’t in the starting lineup and was told he should position himself next to Harris in the dugout when the Cubs are in the field.
“So I’m sure I’m gonna learn a lot tonight,” he said. “And, hopefully, I can just take that on the field with me.”
Crow-Armstrong came on as a pinch runner in the seventh inning and was thrown out trying to steal third. He stayed in the game in center field. In his first major-league at-bat, he laid down a sacrifice bunt.
