The Chicago Cubs made a major splash this offseason by acquiring star right fielder Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros, significantly upgrading their outfield. Tucker, an impending free agent, is expected to anchor the lineup, and the Cubs are hopeful they can sign him to a long-term deal. If they can’t reach an agreement, they can still feel confident in their outfield’s future thanks to their talented young players.
In the minors, Kevin Alcantara stands out as one of baseball’s top prospects, with the potential to become a cornerstone of the Cubs’ outfield alongside current center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Crow-Armstrong, despite a rocky start to his rookie season, showed significant improvement in the second half. After struggling early with a .203/.253/.329 slash line and 45 strikeouts in 174 plate appearances, he turned things around, posting a .262/.310/.425 slash line with seven home runs, eight doubles, and 10 stolen bases in 236 plate appearances. His advanced metrics also improved dramatically, making him one of the league’s most impactful players in August.
While Crow-Armstrong’s elite defense kept him in the lineup early on, his second-half offensive surge solidified his role. His performance in wins has been stellar, though he struggles in losses, often playing below replacement level. With his defensive skills providing a high floor, his offensive development will determine his ceiling. If his second-half improvements are sustainable, Crow-Armstrong has the potential to become an All-Star, giving the Cubs a dynamic young core to build around.
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