Chicago Cubs star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has spent the 2026 giving the Chicago Cubs fans plenty to cheer about. The 24-year-old center fielder has developed into one of the league’s most productive players while putting himself as the 2026 National League MVP favorite.
OH senior David Roller got the honor to caddie for Crow-Armstrong and has seen a different side of the Cubs star. Roller claimed that Crow-Armstrong was much more down-to-earth than he expected.
“Right when I met him, he told me to call him Pete. He said he didn’t like being called PCA. He was super cool and casual, and was just out there having a good time with no pressure,” said Roller.
Crow-Armstrong’s combination of power, speed and defense has made him one of the biggest names in the MVP race. MLB’s latest MVP coverage has highlighted Crow-Armstrong alongside Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani.
For OH senior Graham Schwab, Crow Armstrong’s season is another example of Chicago athletes bringing excitement to the city.
“Caleb Williams, Mattas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, and a few other guys from other Chicago sports teams were there supporting PCA at his game,” said Schwab. “I think that makes everyone in Chicago pretty happy and brings them all together.”
As of Sept. 20, Crow-Armstrong has 45 home runs, 102 RBIs and 38 stolen bases. His 45th home run came Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds, when he also became the first center fielder in MLB history to record 40 home runs, 30 doubles and 30 still in bases in a single season.
His defensive ability has also separated him from many of the other players in the MVP discussion. Earlier this month, MLB reported that Crow-Armstrong had reached 10 WAR while also holding an MLB best 24 fielding runs value in Centerfield.
Crow-Armstrong’s rise also changed the way Cubs fans view the young center fielder. After receiving his second straight All-Star selection, he earned national league player of the month honors in both June and August.
The MVP race has largely centered around Crow-Armstrong and Ohtani. an MLB’s 5th MVP poll Crow-Armstrong received 29 first place votes compared to Ohtani’s 8. MLB noted that Crow-Armstrong led the national league in WAR while providing elite defense in center field.
For Oswego students, Crow-Armstrong’s season has made following Chicago baseball even more exciting. With the Cubs being a team many students grow up watching and supporting, having a young player like Crow-Armstrong an MVP candidate gives students another reason to follow the team.
His success has also created conversations among students about his performances, big plays and chances of winning the MVP award. As the Cubs continue their season, Crow-Armstrong’s success has become something that local students can experience and celebrate alongside the rest of Chicago.
“Considering he started out his season a little bit slow and didn’t have the best year last year, to see him turn it around and start playing great and obviously be in the MVP race is great for the city of Chicago and awesome for the fans,” Roller said.
With the regular season nearing its conclusion, Crow-Armstrong continues to add one of the most productive seasons of his young career. Whether he ultimately receives the MVP award will be decided by the Baseball Writers Association of America, but his 2026 season has already placed him among the biggest names in Major League Baseball.
