Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong predicted to win MLB award that's not NL MVP

Mar 24, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong against the New York Yankees during spring training at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Chicago Cubs have been having a roller coaster of a 2026 season, as they've had some rough patches and stretches where they looked unbeatable.

But one constant has been the production of Pete Crow-Armstrong. He's been elite all season long and is now poised to win the National League MVP over Shohei Ohtani.

That might not be the only award he wins either. MLB.com's Jared Greenspan, Jason Foster and Brian Murphy predict that PCA will win the NL's Gold Glove award for center fielders. While MVP is still up in the air, there should be no doubt the Gold Glove is his.

Pete Crow-Armstrong predicted to win NL Gold Glove award

"Is there an easier selection for the Gold Glove at any position this year? Probably not," the MLB.com trio write. "PCA is on track to win the award for a second straight year thanks to a level of defense that is basically unmatched in the sport."

While Crow-Armstrong has impressed offensively, clobbering 41 homers on the year and putting together elite base-stealing numbers as well, his defense might be the best part of his game.

The trio from MLB.com highlighted PCA's eight "five-star" catches, which rank second in all of MLB, only to Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela. Those five-star catches show how high his ceiling is defensively.

He recently made an incredible robbery up against the Miami Marlins' center field wall. He's made plenty of great plays all season long.

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 According to Baseball Savant, Crow-Armstrong's Fielding Run Value is an astonishing plus-27, well ahead of second place at plus-21, and is more than double his top competition for this Gold Glove award.

Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages has a plus-12 FRV. That's significantly less than PCA's plus-27 mark.

That should make it very clear that Crow-Armstrong should be the NL's Gold Glove award winner this season.

The trio from MLB.com predict this is going to be an "easy" decision for MLB voters, and there shouldn't be another outfielder who seriously challenges PCA for this end-of-season award.

When it's all said and done, Crow-Armstrong looks likely to win the NL MVP and the NL Gold Glove for center fielders while also potentially having a 10-plus bWAR season.

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