The Chicago Cubs are calling up top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong to replace star outfielder Cody Bellinger, who is headed to the injured list with a fractured rib, manager Craig Counsell said during an appearance on the “Parkins and Spiegel Show” on Wednesday.
Bellinger sustained the injury Tuesday in a game against the Houston Astros during which he ran into the outfield wall. The two-time All-Star was slashing .226/.320/.440 to begin the season.
“Honestly didn’t feel much at first,” Bellinger said after the game. “As the innings went on, I started to get a little more uncomfortable. It was nothing serious. It’s a very dull pain, even now, which is a good sign. But at first, I didn’t feel anything.”
Crow-Armstrong was cut from the Cubs’ spring roster in early March, and it seemed his path to everyday at-bats would be blocked after the re-signing of Bellinger. Now the 22-year-old center fielder will return to the majors after a brief 13-game stint with the Cubs last September. He went hitless over 19 at-bats but recorded two stolen bases and an RBI.
Through 19 games with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, Crow-Armstrong is slashing .203/.241/.392 with seven RBIs, five stolen bases and two home runs.
What to expect from Crow-Armstrong
He’s strong enough to hit 20 homers, as he did last year in the minors, and a good enough hitter overall to hit .300+, but he’s probably not going to be able to do both with his swing and his size. He’s better served going for contact and letting some power come naturally, in the 10-12 homer a year range, and perhaps in doing so he’ll see his walk rate and thus his OBP creeps back up. After a tough, if very brief, stint in the majors, Crow-Armstrong has a little more reason to find that offensive middle ground, and added to the value he’ll provide on defense he could be a 5 WAR player for several years through his peak. — Keith Law, MLB senior writer
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(Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
