The Chicago Cubs recalled outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong from Triple-A Iowa on Thursday morning, and he was included in manager Craig Counsell’s lineup for the series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field.
This marks Crow-Armstrong’s second stint in the majors. He started the season as the top prospect in the Cubs’ system and among the top 20 minor-league prospects overall, according to MLB Pipeline.com.
After posting a .138/.194/.241 slash line with a .435 OPS in 29 Cactus League at-bats, Crow-Armstrong began the season in Iowa. He was slashing .203/.241/.392 when he was first called up on April 24 due to Cody Bellinger’s placement on the injured list.
In his initial major-league action, Crow-Armstrong played 23 games, hitting .236 with two doubles, a triple, a home run, and nine RBIs before being sent back to Iowa on May 20.
Since then, he has been on a hot streak. In seven games with Iowa, he batted .387 (12-for-31) with four doubles, three home runs, seven RBIs, eight runs scored, and an impressive 1.248 OPS.
“He certainly had a good 10-day stretch,” said Cubs manager Craig Counsell on Thursday morning.
Although Crow-Armstrong was in the lineup on Thursday, Counsell did not commit to him as the everyday starter. Bellinger will still play in the outfield but will also move around as Counsell integrates Crow-Armstrong into the lineup.
Counsell On Armstrong’s Playing Time
“I think Pete has to earn playing time,” Counsell said. “ We’re going to have some choices every day in the lineup … There’s going to be days when Pete doesn’t play. We obviously brought Pete to be a part of this and I think it gives us some more choices throughout the game and I expect that to evolve. Hopefully we get a good solution out of it.”
Chicago optioned infielder Luis Vasquez to Iowa to make room for Crow-Armstrong on the active roster.
