October 31, 2025 – Chicago, IL – Pete Crow-Armstrong is no longer just the Chicago Cubs’ center fielder — he’s the heartbeat of Wrigley Field. In a single electric inning during Tuesday’s 5-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, the 23-year-old phenom delivered two jaw-dropping plays that sent 40,000 fans into a frenzy of “P-C-A!” and “M-V-P!” chants — and solidified his status as a 2026 All-Star lock and rising NL MVP candidate.
First, a diving, tumbling catch to rob Brice Turang of a sure hit in the eighth. Then, a 452-foot moonshot — the longest of his 29 career homers — off Rob Zastryzny to lead off the bottom half. The blast, with a 111.5 mph exit velocity, crashed off the right-field scoreboard and ignited the Cubs’ comeback.
“That’s why we come to the ballpark — to see great players do amazing things. Pretty cool,” said manager Craig Counsell.
The Play That Broke the Internet
8th Inning Defense: Turang’s 90.1 mph liner looked destined for left-center grass. → PCA sprinted, dove, gloved it mid-tumble, then popped up like it was routine. → Pitcher Caleb Thielbar just grinned from the mound.
“He’s playing at as high of a level as I’ve seen a center fielder play,” Counsell declared.
Bottom 8th Offense: Facing veteran lefty Rob Zastryzny, PCA crushed an 85.5 mph cutter at the top of the zone. → 452 feet. 111.5 mph exit velo. No-doubt blast. → “Didn’t feel anything,” PCA said with a shrug.
2025 Breakout: From Prospect to Superstar
Stat (2025)
Rank on Cubs
MLB Context
19 HR
1st
Team leader
58 RBI
2nd (behind Seiya Suzuki)
52 R
1st
23 SB
1st
All-Star Votes
1.1M+
#1 among NL outfielders
After a 0-for-14 debut in 2023 and a slow June 2024, PCA exploded late last year (.289, 7 HR, 30 RBI in final 57 games) — and hasn’t looked back.
“Every game he plays is like two games for a normal person, just with how hard he plays,” said pitcher Ben Brown.
From Mets Draft Pick to Cubs Savior
2020: 1st-round pick by New York Mets
July 2021: Traded to Cubs in Javier Báez deal
2023: MLB debut (0-for-14)
2024–25: Transformed into Gold Glove-caliber defender + power-speed threat
Now, the All-Star Game in Atlanta next month feels like a coronation.
“I’m still kind of new to the ovations… I don’t quite know how to respond,” PCA admitted with a sheepish grin. “It’s so personable and it just feels super real and cool.”
Cubs Extend NL Central Lead to 6½ Games
The win — Chicago’s third straight — pushed their division lead over Milwaukee to 6½ games. With Chris Sale, Spencer Strider-like dominance in the rotation and PCA patrolling center, the Cubs are built for October.
The Verdict: PCA Is Must-See TV
In a city that’s seen Sammy Sosa, Ryne Sandberg, and Andre Dawson, Pete Crow-Armstrong is writing his own legend — one 450-foot bomb and one gravity-defying catch at a time.
Wrigley’s new chant isn’t going away.P-C-A! P-C-A! P-C-A!
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