Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ said Tuesday he was caught off guard by teammate Pete Crow-Armstrong’s sudden surge into National League MVP contention.
“I didn’t see it coming,” Happ told hosts on 104.3 The Score during a live Chalk Talk appearance from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Performance Stage.
Crow-Armstrong, the 24-year-old center fielder widely known as PCA, has transformed his season into a legitimate challenge against Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani for the award. The Cubs entered Tuesday’s game against the Dodgers with a 64-49 record, remaining firmly in the playoff hunt.
Crow-Armstrong has posted elite production across the board, combining power, speed and defense at a level few anticipated entering the year. He has already reached the 20-home run and 20-stolen base marks, becoming the first player in the majors to do so this season.
His recent stretch has been particularly dominant, featuring a high batting average, elevated on-base percentage and consistent extra-base hits.
Defensively, Crow-Armstrong ranks among the league leaders in advanced metrics such as outs above average and defensive runs saved.
Happ, a four-time Gold Glove winner and one of the longest-tenured players on the roster, has watched the young outfielder develop closely. The veteran noted the dramatic nature of Crow-Armstrong’s rise while praising the consistency that has fueled it.
Here is the full video of Happ talking about the rise of Crow-Armstrong:
Crow-Armstrong’s improved plate discipline, including a sharp increase in walk rate during the middle of the season, has been a key factor in his elevated production. That adjustment has helped him close the gap on Ohtani in the MVP odds, turning what once appeared a runaway race into a tight contest.
Happ emphasized the value of Crow-Armstrong’s all-around game during the radio segment.
The Cubs host the Dodgers on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Crow-Armstrong’s performance has drawn increasing national attention as the second half of the season unfolds. Happ’s comments underscored the unexpected trajectory of a player once viewed primarily as a defensive specialist with speed.
The veteran outfielder has served as a mentor figure in the clubhouse for younger teammates including Crow-Armstrong. Cubs fans have taken notice of the center fielder’s emergence as one of baseball’s most complete players.
Whether Crow-Armstrong can sustain the pace through the final two months remains to be seen, but his current form has placed him squarely in the MVP conversation. Happ’s remarks provided a teammate’s perspective on a season that continues to surprise everyone throughout the baseball world.
