Pete Crow-Armstrong Works Through Slump with Steady Approach
Pete Crow-Armstrong has quickly become one of the most exciting young players on the Cubs roster, but even breakout stars can face tough stretches. After being one of the team’s most consistent hitters through the first four months of the season, he has found himself in a bit of an August slump. Instead of panicking, though, he’s taking advice from veterans, making small adjustments, and keeping his focus on the bigger picture.
One of the guiding ideas for him during this stretch actually came from longtime major leaguer Justin Turner. Turner’s simple advice was that timing and bat path should always be checked first. Crow-Armstrong has taken that to heart. For him, that means paying close attention to whether he’s too early, too late, or just not connecting the way he should. Timing, after all, can dictate whether the ball soars into the gap or gets chopped into the dirt.
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Statistically, the dip in his production has been clear. Entering the series opener against the Angels, he was hitting just .154 over a three-week span, a big contrast from his scorching first half. In fact, by mid-June he had already surpassed his career home run total, became the first player of the year to reach the 20-20 milestone in homers and stolen bases, and earned his first All-Star starting nod. He was even gaining MVP chatter. That kind of run is hard to sustain, and as hitting coach Dustin Kelly pointed out, stretches that hot can sometimes look “almost unconscious.”
The numbers now tell a different story: a spike in ground balls, up to a season-high 43.2%, has cut into his power. That’s often a sign that something in the swing is off, whether it’s timing or path. But Crow-Armstrong insists his timing hasn’t been the issue lately. Instead, he believes his bat path has flattened out just enough to make a difference. Still, he isn’t overhauling his swing—just minor tweaks are being made, with confidence that things will turn around.
Another factor has been how pitchers are approaching him. Early in the year, they tested him with pitches below the zone, often missing high and giving him balls to drive. Now, opponents are working him more carefully—trying to stay away early in counts, then coming inside late or challenging him with high fastballs. Left-handed relievers are also being brought in specifically to face him, giving him fewer chances to settle in against familiar patterns.
For Crow-Armstrong, it’s not easy to deal with a downturn after such an electric start. Still, he’s focusing on what he can control: making adjustments, sticking to his process, and continuing to play strong defense. His mindset is that slumps happen, but they don’t define a season. As he put it, “It is what it is.” With his talent and his steady approach, it’s only a matter of time before he finds his rhythm again.
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