​BALTIMORE — Pete Crow-Armstrong is staying red-hot at the plate. The Cubs leadoff hitter continued his blistering pace by becoming the first player this season to reach at least 20 homers and 20 steals, belting a solo shot in the third inning to give Chicago an early edge over the Orioles at Camden Yards on Wednesday night. The 24-year-old center fielder wasn’t finished, launching another drive off Orioles starter Dean Kremer in the fifth inning for his second multi-homer game of the year. Seiya Suzuki joined the scoring party with a three-run homer in a five-run seventh, and the Cubs held on to defeat Baltimore, 9-7, marking their third win in a row and eighth in their past 10 games.
Crow-Armstrong’s latest performance makes him the first Cub to string together back-to-back 20-20 seasons since Sammy Sosa accomplished the feat in three consecutive years from 1993 to 1995, joining a select group that includes Sosa and Ryne Sandberg in the multi-season club. He achieved this milestone before the All-Star break for a second straight season, continuing to place him among MLB’s rarest pestoss: one of only four players in league history to post a 20-20 season before their team’s 95th game in a season, after hitting the mark in 73 games last year and reaching it again with Wednesday’s performance in the Cubs’ 92nd game of the year. The others in this exclusive club are Alfonso Soriano (2002-03, 2006), Jose Canseco (1988, 1998), and Bobby Bonds (1969, 1973, 1977).
Through Wednesday’s game, Crow-Armstrong’s 5.8 fWAR leads all big-league hitters. He’s posting a stellar .297/.385/.544 slash line, already with 21 home runs, 14 doubles, four triples, 52 RBIs, 23 stolen bases, and 59 runs scored. His production pairs with a strong all-around contribution that highlights his speed, power, and ability to impact the game in multiple ways. Crow-Armstrong’s ongoing production continues to drive Chicago’s offense as the Cubs push to solidify their standing in the league and position themselves for a deeper run as the season unfolds.
In this stretch drive, Crow-Armstrong’s combination of power and speed remains a central storyline for fans and analysts alike. His ability to connect for home runs while also stealing bases creates a dual-threat profile that makes him a dangerous presence atop Chicago’s lineup. As the season advances, teams facing the Cubs must account for his speed on the bases and his power in the middle of the order, a combination that can create sustained pressure on opposing pitching staffs.
Overall, Crow-Armstrong’s latest performance underscores why he’s widely regarded as one of the game’s most dynamic young talents. With ongoing production on both sides of the ball, he’s not only proving himself valuable for this Cubs club in the present but also cementing a place in franchise history for melding speed and power at a level rarely seen in a single player. As the Cubs continue their march through the schedule, Crow-Armstrong’s continued excellence will be a focal point for fans hoping to see Chicago sustain momentum and chase postseason opportunities.