As a good bad-ball hitter, Crow-Armstrong not focused on drawing walks
Pete-Crow Armstrong does just about everything fast, so maybe it makes sense he doesn't draw many walks.
The Cubs center fielder drew 2 walks in a game Saturday for the first time in his MLB career, giving him 11 on the season. The only player among the top 50 in OPS who has walked less this season is the Dodgers' Teoscar Hernandez.
Considering his ability to steal bases, “You should walk more” is a phrase he's heard often during his baseball career.
“I've been told that for a while,” Crow-Armstrong said Sunday. “Eventually, it just got to the point of like, I'm a good bad-ball hitter and I might as well take advantage of that.
“There was that little time where I tried walking, and it was more walks, but more strikeouts and that was in Double-A. So I kind of just ditched that whole conversation entirely.”
He didn't snag any free passes in Sunday's 7-3 Cubs victory, but that's because he reached base four times — with 3 singles and a two-base error — while adding 2 stolen bases.
“(Saturday) was a day that I just took the first pitch of the at-bat a little bit more intentionally,” he said. “I definitely would like to see more of that in my at-bats moving forward this year, but that's never going to be a focus, walking.”
Most of MLB's best hitters walk often, since opposing pitchers will try not to give them anything good to hit. Kyle Tucker leads the Cubs and ranks fifth in MLB with 40 walks.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell has always said he's not about to mess with Crow-Armstrong's approach, considering the success he's having this season.
“I think that's what makes Pete pretty fascinating right now,” Counsell said. “I do think he's going to continue to get better at this, though.
“What's rare is the damage being done outside the strike zone. It's one thing to get hits outside the strike zone and to put the bat on the ball outside the strike zone. I think the damage outside the strike zone is pretty unique.”
Is there a distinction between being a good bad-ball hitter and just an aggressive swinger?
“I'm a good bad-ball hitter, for sure,” PCA said.
The walks will have to wait, maybe for later in his career.
Imanaga to Mesa:
Shota Imanaga was scheduled to travel to Arizona on Sunday to continue his rehab from a left hamstring strain. The plan is to throw some live batting practice, with the next step getting some game action at the Arizona Rookie League. Will he move on to a minor-league affiliate to continue his rehab stint? Not necessarily.
“It'll be multiple games. Where it is, I don't think is important,” manager Craig Counsell said. “We've got to build up volume. Then we want to bring him back in a place where he's ready to be himself.”
Around the horn:
Kyle Tucker was thrown out trying to steal second base in the first inning, which ended his streak of 29 consecutive stolen bases, dating back to Sept. 11, 2023. Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson got the assist after Tucker was hit by a pitch for the second straight game. … Naperville native and WNBA legend Candace Parker sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and threw out the first pitch.