​The Chicago Cubs opened their set against the Baltimore Orioles with a 5-2 win Tuesday night, climbing to 51-40 on the season. Chicago showed strong momentum in June, going 16-10, and they have won 11 of their last 14 games. Central to that recent surge has been leadoff hitter and star outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, whose contributions have helped the Cubs sit in second place in the NL Central behind the Milwaukee Brewers.
Following Crow-Armstrong’s third-inning homer on Wednesday against Baltimore, the Cubs announced a historic milestone for the 24-year-old outfielder. Crow-Armstrong became the first Cubs player since Sammy Sosa in 1993-95 to post back-to-back seasons with at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. “Pete didn’t just join the 20/20 club this season — he opened it,” the Cubs proclaimed, underscoring his unique place in the franchise’s history.
Crow-Armstrong is the only MLB player this season with at least 20 homers and 20 stolen bases, and he comes off a remarkable June in which he batted .381 with 40 hits, 11 home runs, 20 RBIs, 82 total bases, and eight stolen bases across 26 games. After adding a second homer on Wednesday, he now sits at 21 home runs and 52 RBIs for the year. He entered that game hitting .293 with a .525 slugging percentage and a .908 OPS, in addition to 23 stolen bases.
Social media reaction to Crow-Armstrong’s milestone was floodlit with praise. For instance, @SaraKarth05 quipped that Pete has turned the 20/20 club into a full-on 20/20 party, with the Cubs as the only invitees. Others chimed in with effusive admiration: @PRIM3_TACTICZ declared “I love you PCA,” while @DobzMiles called him “literally the best player in the sport.” A fan noted his potential for 30/30 annually, complimenting his status as a top defender and an undeniable superstar. Another commenter, @reallywillb, hailed him as a goat who consistently delivers 30/30 numbers and exceptional defense, solidifying his place among the sport’s elite. And @KFidds praised two consecutive seasons of 20/20 production from the best defensive player in baseball, commending Crow-Armstrong’s sustained excellence.
This coverage originally appeared on HEAVY, where the article highlighted the league-wide reaction to the Cubs’ historic announcement about Pete Crow-Armstrong. The ongoing narrative around Crow-Armstrong’s performance continues to captivate Cubs fans and MLB observers alike, as he establishes a distinctive niche in modern baseball with a blend of power, speed, and elite defense. The Cubs’ 5-2 victory over the Orioles added to a broader context of a team that has found substantial and timely success, with Crow-Armstrong at the forefront of their ascent in the NL Central standings and in the broader conversation about the season’s standout performers.