CHICAGO — Pete Crow-Armstrong captured the National League MVP award unanimously Thursday, capping a spectacular all-around campaign for the Chicago Cubs center fielder.
Crow-Armstrong joined Houston Astros power hitter Yordan Alvarez, who was also a first-time MVP and received every first-place vote in the American League. Alvarez narrowly pursued a Triple Crown while batting a career-best .316 with 42 home runs and 106 RBIs for the AL West champions.
In 162 games, Crow-Armstrong established personal bests with a .280 batting average, 45 home runs, 107 RBIs and 41 stolen bases. He shared the major league home-run lead with teammate Kyle Schwarber while topping the NL in runs scored with 119, slugging at .570 and OPS at .942.
His impact extended far beyond the batter’s box. The Southern California native earned his second Gold Glove and ranked first across the majors with 26 Outs Above Average and 23 Runs Prevented, according to Baseball Savant.
“You spend your whole life in baseball and you just don’t see this happen on a baseball field,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after Crow-Armstrong launched two homers in an 8-4 victory over Atlanta on Sept. 16. “You’re grateful to be a part of it. You’re grateful to see things like this and then you’re grateful that the fans get to see a season like this.”
Crow-Armstrong swept the voting, collecting all 30 first-place selections from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, a four-time MVP, placed second, followed by Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang.
PCA’s award marked by celebrations, giveaways, deals across Chicago
New Balance is planning an “MVPCA” celebration Friday evening outside Wrigley Field in honor of Crow-Armstrong. From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., fans can visit the area beside the new Founders’ Clock for a custom “MVP” hat giveaway and a photo opportunity. More information can be found here.
Corona and other brands are joining the festivities with special offers for fans throughout the Chicago area. More information can be found here.
Astros’ Yordan Alvarez gets AL honor
Alvarez paced the majors in batting average, tied for second in the American League in home runs and finished second outright in RBIs. He trailed Baltimore’s Pete Alonso, who posted 43 homers and 113 RBIs.
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Although Alvarez spent most of his time as Houston’s designated hitter, his extraordinary offensive production carried the day. The four-time All-Star also led the majors with 109 walks, a .432 on-base percentage and a .601 slugging percentage.
At 29, Alvarez became Houston’s first AL MVP since Jose Altuve won the award in 2017. Tampa Bay third baseman Junior Caminero, who hit .276 with 42 homers and 101 RBIs, finished second, while Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. placed third.
Houston introduced Alvarez to the majors in 2019, and he immediately made an impact. In only 87 games, he batted .313 with 27 home runs and 78 RBIs, earning AL Rookie of the Year honors.
Alvarez later won ALCS MVP honors in 2021 and helped the Astros secure the 2022 World Series title. Through eight major league seasons, he owns a .300 average with 212 homers and 599 RBIs.
Crow-Armstrong improved significantly after breakout 2025
Crow-Armstrong, 24, agreed to a six-year, $115 million contract in March. He is the first Cubs player to win NL MVP since Kris Bryant in 2016.
The Mets selected Crow-Armstrong with the 19th pick in the 2020 amateur draft before sending him to Chicago in the July 2021 trade that also involved Javier Báez.
He broke out last season, helping Chicago reach the postseason for the first time since 2020. Crow-Armstrong hit .247 with 31 home runs, 95 RBIs and 35 stolen bases across 157 games.
The left-handed hitter took another major step forward during his fourth season, particularly against left-handed pitchers. His batting average against southpaws climbed to .280 in 2026 after he hit just .188 against them a year earlier.
“I would say, like, what contributed to making myself a consistent quality at-bat and all that stuff is just, like, getting to know the strike zone just that much better,” Crow-Armstrong said before the playoffs began. “I definitely missed less pitches in the zone, in the heart of the zone, that I should be hitting this year.”
Copyright © 2026 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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