Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong Sends ‘Surprised’ Mets Message

Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has rapidly ascended from a top prospect to a two-time National League All-Star and MVP candidate. Batting .289 with 19 home runs and 49 RBIs, he leads MLB with a 5.2 WAR, showcasing power, speed, and defense. His stellar June earned him NL Player of the Month honors, with 11 homers and a .381 average. Crow-Armstrong recently reflected on his 2020 MLB Draft experience, expressing surprise at the New York Mets' lack of pre-draft communication, despite them selecting him 19th overall. He was later traded to the Cubs in 2021 for Javier Baez and Trevor Williams. This move has proven to be a pivotal transaction for Chicago, as Crow-Armstrong has become a franchise cornerstone, potentially causing regret for the Mets.

The Chicago Cubs have watched young outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong evolve from one of baseball's most intriguing prospects into one of the game's brightest stars.

Just a few years after arriving in Chicago as part of a franchise-altering trade, the outfielder has emerged as an MVP candidate and recently earned another National League All-Star selection.

"He is currently batting .289 with 19 home runs and 49 RBI's for the Cubs in 89 games, and he leads all of Major League Baseball with a Wins Above Replacement of 5.2 on the year, combining power hitting, speed and stellar defense,” NBC Chicago’s James Neveau reported this week. “His performance was buoyed by a staggering June that saw him win National League Player of the Month honors, clubbing 11 home runs during the month. He also batted .381 and had an OPS of 1.249 for the month to help the Cubs to another surge forward in the standings."

Crow-Armstrong’s rapid rise has naturally prompted renewed interest in his baseball journey, including the events that shaped his path before he ever reached the major leagues. And, looking back, one particular part of the draft process still stands out to the Cubs' breakout star.

Reflecting on his selection in the 2020 MLB Draft, Crow-Armstrong admitted that he was caught off guard by how little interest he received from the New York Mets beforehand, given that he was taken by the organization in the first round and coveted throughout the sport.

"I was surprised by the Mets,” Crow-Armstrong recently recalled, per ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. “I talked to like 27 or 28 teams. I didn't talk to, but I know I didn't talk to the Mets. I thought I would have ended up a Brewer based on predraft stuff."

Despite the lack of communication, the Mets ultimately selected Crow-Armstrong with the 19th overall pick in the first round. His tenure in the organization proved brief, however, as he was traded to the Cubs in July 2021 in exchange for Javier Baez and Trevor Williams just ahead of the deadline.

That move has now become one of the defining transactions of Chicago's rebuilding era and it could drive some regret among the Mets now that their former first-round pick has exceeded expectations.

Crow-Armstrong has blossomed into one of baseball's premier all-around players, giving the Cubs exactly the type of franchise cornerstone they envisioned when acquiring him from the Mets.

Now a two-time All-Star and one of the faces of the Cubs franchise, Crow-Armstrong's draft-day recollection serves as a reminder of how unpredictable baseball careers can be. A player who barely heard from the Mets before being selected by them has ultimately become a cornerstone elsewhere, helping lead Chicago back into postseason contention while developing into one of the sport's most dynamic talents.