The PCA Moment Arrives

 

The recent class of can't miss prospects have been inconsistent in terms of how quickly they've taken to the majors. Some, like Paul Skenes and Julio Rodriguez, take off immediately. Some, like Bobby Witt and Hunter Brown, take a year or so to get the hang of things and then become amazing. Some, like Casey Mize and Spencer Torkelson, take even longer but at the very least get to where everyone said they would. And some, like Jasson Dominguez, have run into both bad luck and an organization that doesn't want him to succeed. 

Pete Crow-Armstrong, who was brought up late in 2023 due to an outfielder shortage and was held back last year due to 'not being ready' and then stuttering when he did get called up, was making me think he'd land in the Dominguez category. He was also similar to Anthony Volpe in that his defense and speed were making up for his lack of plate success. I'd obviously heard that he was supposed to be great but wasn't sure when he'd get the opportunity to. Well, after a slow start to the season, PCA has finally reached his full potential, and is now hitting .271 with 26 RBIs, 9 homers and 12 steals. At 23, his ceiling is growing, and this being a breakout year is good timing for all involved parties.

The Cubs' initial rise to the top of the NL West was thanks to Kyle Tucker, and to a lesser extent Justin Steele and Carson Kelly. But staying on top, and becoming a true, full-season monolith was thanks to PCA going on a tear all of the sudden. And now the heart of the Cubs lineup is so much stronger, because you already had Tucker and Seiya Suzuki hitting well, and now PCA, Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner and Michael Busch have joined the charge. Now you are finally seeing the versatility of this Cubs team, as so many starters now seem multifaceted, talented and have a reason to belong on this team. The 'here out of convenience' picks are all gone. And again, it's wild to me that Ian Happ stayed on this team long enough to continue to be an integral part of this one. Right now he leads the league in hits. And despite the fact that Miguel Amaya has continued to be very useful, Carson Kelly may have lapped him for the starting job on account of how great he was in April. Not since 2018 has there been this much production coming from a Cubs lineup, and it's amazing that Pete Crow Armstrong gets to be the centerpiece. 

You're also seeing guys like Ben Brown come into their own. The big guy has gotten more starting opportunities, and is 3-2 with 35 Ks and a 4.88 ERA [which is coming down as he figures it out more]. With Steele down and many of the main options contracted guys [Imanaga, Boyd, Rea, Taillon], having at least one homegrown fireballer would be a very good thing, and Brown seems well on his way. 

The Dodgers and Mets have had some of the best records so far, but the Cubs have had way less weak moments, and just look really damned good at the moment. May it continue. 

Coming Tonight: I was worried he'd never be healthy enough to really be trusted by a team again. Thankfully, he proved me wrong.