Sports radio host Colin Cowherd called Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong the best player in baseball Tuesday and predicted he will win the National League Most Valuable Player award following a historic performance against the crosstown White Sox.
“The best player in baseball is Pete Crow-Armstrong… He’s going to win the MVP,” Cowherd said on his show “The Herd.”
Crow-Armstrong delivered a career night Monday at Wrigley Field, going 4-for-5 with a leadoff home run, a double, a walk, a stolen base and a two-run walk-off homer in the 10th inning. The Cubs defeated the White Sox 7-5 in extra innings before a packed crowd of more than 40,000.
The 24-year-old became the first player in major league history to reach base five times, collect four hits, three extra-base hits, a stolen base, a leadoff homer and a walk-off homer in the same game, according to data highlighted during Cowherd’s broadcast. His second homer of the night was his 30th of the season, pairing with 31 stolen bases to give him consecutive 30-30 seasons — a first in Cubs franchise history.
Crow-Armstrong followed that performance Tuesday with another leadoff home run, his 31st of the year, as the Cubs claimed a second straight walk-off victory, 4-3. Alex Bregman delivered the game-winning single after the White Sox intentionally walked Crow-Armstrong in the ninth.
The back-to-back Crosstown Series wins left the Cubs at 74-53 and 4 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. Crow-Armstrong entered Wednesday hitting .279 with 31 home runs, 79 RBIs, 90 runs scored, 25 doubles, seven triples and 31 stolen bases in 128 games. His .928 OPS ranked among the top marks in the majors, and advanced metrics have consistently placed him among the league leaders in wins above replacement and defensive value in center field.
Cowherd’s endorsement amplified an already intensifying MVP debate that has largely centered on Crow-Armstrong and Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani. Crow-Armstrong has overtaken Ohtani in several statistical categories at various points this summer, particularly in overall value when defense and baserunning are factored in. Ohtani remains a formidable candidate with elite offensive production and his dual role as a pitcher and hitter.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell has repeatedly praised Crow-Armstrong’s ability to deliver in big moments.
“This is what great players do,” Counsell said after the Monday walk-off. “We’ve got a number of these moments this season from Pete. It’s a great player moment. They step up in situations like this.”
Crow-Armstrong himself has downplayed individual awards while emphasizing team success and the atmosphere at Wrigley. After the Monday win, he said the Crosstown series felt special because “people showed out for sure.”
The Cubs have posted a strong second-half record, going 19-11 since the All-Star break with a plus-50 run differential, according to graphics shown during Cowherd’s segment. Their offense has ranked among the top five in batting average, OPS and home runs in that span.
Crow-Armstrong’s emergence has fueled discussions about a potential baseball renaissance in Chicago, where both the Cubs and White Sox remain competitive late in the season. The White Sox entered the series leading the AL Central before the consecutive losses narrowed their margin over the Minnesota Twins.
At 24, Crow-Armstrong already owns a Gold Glove and has established himself as one of the sport’s most dynamic five-tool talents. His combination of power, speed and elite defense has drawn comparisons to past stars who combined similar skills, though few have matched his early-career consistency in reaching 30-30 twice before age 25.
Cowherd’s strong stance added a prominent national voice to the growing chorus of support for Crow-Armstrong as the clear MVP frontrunner with roughly six weeks remaining in the regular season.
Whether the voters ultimately agree will depend on how both candidates finish, but the Cubs star has given them plenty of highlight-reel evidence to consider.
