One of the biggest questions of the offseason for the Chicago Cubs was which version of outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong would they get this season? Would he look like the PCA who was putting up MVP-type numbers in the first half of the season, or would he be the guy who struggled and at times looked lost following the All-Star break? Based on the 6-year, $115 million contract extension Crow-Armstrong signed in March, the Cubs are banking on him being closer to the guy they saw prior to the All-Star game.

Out of the gates slow

Crow-Armstrong started the season similarly to how he ended last season. He struggled out of the gate and through his first 15 games of the season, he hit just .203 with an OBP of .242. The center fielder’s Achilles heel was his strikeouts, as he struck out 19 times and struck out in 12 of the 15 games. After starting the season hitting cleanup for manager Craig Counsell, Crow-Armstrong was moved down towards the bottom of the order, where he has been hitting in the seven, eight, and nine spots, depending on the lineup.

The Cubs clearly believe in PCA, referring again to his contract extension, but they also showed it by continuing to run him out there every day despite his struggles at the plate. While some radio shows and social media called for him to be sent down to Triple-A to work on his game, the Cubs stuck with him. His plus-defensive skills in center field and speed on the basepaths, of course, helped keep him on the field as well, as that’s really what he’s known for.

Turning the corner

But since April 13^th, Crow-Armstrong has been much more productive at the plate. In that 16-game span, PCA is posting a slash line of .281/.369/.456 with home runs in back-to-back games against the San Diego Padres. He’s been much more consistent at the plate as he’s recorded hits in seven of his last ten games.

An area where PCA has shown slight improvement is with his eye at the plate. Through his first 15 games, Crow-Armstrong only walked three times, but in his last 16 games, he has walked six times. It just goes to show he’s seeing the ball better at the plate, and if he’s walking, it means he’s getting on base and using his speed, setting the table for the top of the order.