The highly emotional story of Pete Crow-Armstrong‘s family being unable to reach him and manager Craig Counsell needing to call back is a sensationalized fabrication surrounding a very real injury scare that occurred late in the 2025 season.
There was no tearful mystery, only immediate concern that was quickly resolved with good news.
The Shocking Truth (The Real Version)
The incident that caused the panic happened on Saturday, September 6, 2025:
- The Injury: In the bottom of the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals, Crow-Armstrong fouled a pitch directly off his right kneecap. He finished the at-bat with a walk but was in considerable pain and was removed from the game after the inning ended.
- The Club’s Response: The Cubs immediately sent the MVP candidate for tests. Manager Craig Counsell addressed the media shortly after the game to squash the panic.
- The “Shocking Truth”: The X-rays came back NEGATIVE for any fracture or break. Counsell announced that Crow-Armstrong was diagnosed with a right knee contusion (a deep bruise) and was considered day-to-day.
Why the Story Was Created
The rumors about his family being “unable to reach him” likely stem from the initial uncertainty and the swiftness with which he was whisked away for medical imaging, making him unavailable to family members immediately after the game.
The true emotional moment came from Crow-Armstrong himself, who, after hearing the X-rays were clear, spoke about the injury’s pain: “I’ve never fouled a ball straight off my kneecap before… That’s kind of how I help the cause, on a daily basis, is with my legs. So, it was a good stinger for sure.”
The “unthinkable moment” ended quickly with relief, confirming that one of the Cubs’ most valuable players avoided a season-ending injury.
