CHICAGO — Pete Crow-Armstrong was unanimously named National League MVP on Thursday after the Chicago Cubs center fielder delivered a spectacular, all-around season.
Crow-Armstrong joined Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez as a first-time MVP. Alvarez was the unanimous American League selection after making a run at the Triple Crown, batting a career-best .316 with 42 home runs and 106 RBIs for the AL West champions.
Crow-Armstrong established career highs with a .280 batting average, 45 homers, 107 RBIs and 41 stolen bases across 162 games. He tied Kyle Schwarber for the major league home run lead while topping the NL in runs scored (119), slugging percentage (.570) and OPS (.942).
His impact extended well beyond the batter’s box. The Southern California native won his second Gold Glove and led all major leaguers with 26 Outs Above Average and 23 Runs Prevented, according to Baseball Savant.
“You spend your whole life in baseball and you just don’t see this happen on a baseball field,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after Crow-Armstrong hit two home runs in an 8-4 victory over Atlanta on Sept. 16. “You’re grateful to be a part of it. You’re grateful to see things like this and then you’re grateful that the fans get to see a season like this.”
Crow-Armstrong collected all 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, a four-time MVP, finished second, followed by Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang.
PCA’s MVP win sparks celebrations, giveaways and deals across Chicago
New Balance will hold an “MVPCA” fan event Friday evening outside Wrigley Field to celebrate Crow-Armstrong’s award. The gathering, which will include a custom “MVP” hat giveaway and a photo opportunity, runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. next to the new Founders’ Clock. More information can be found here.
Other brands, including Corona, are joining the celebration with special offers for fans throughout the Chicago area. More information can be found here.
Astros star Yordan Alvarez earns unanimous AL MVP honor
Alvarez led the majors in batting average and tied for second in the AL in home runs. He ranked second outright in RBIs, behind Baltimore’s Pete Alonso, who finished with 43 homers and 113 RBIs.
Although Alvarez served primarily as Houston’s designated hitter, his offensive production outweighed his limited defensive role. The four-time All-Star also paced the majors in walks (109), on-base percentage (.432) and slugging percentage (.601).
The 29-year-old Alvarez became Houston’s first AL MVP since Jose Altuve won the award in 2017. Tampa Bay third baseman Junior Caminero, who hit .276 with 42 homers and 101 RBIs, placed second in the AL voting. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was third.
Alvarez reached the majors with Houston in 2019 and immediately made an impact, batting .313 with 27 homers and 78 RBIs in only 87 games. He went on to win AL Rookie of the Year honors.
He was named ALCS MVP in 2021 and helped the Astros win the 2022 World Series. Over eight major league seasons, Alvarez has hit .300 with 212 home runs and 599 RBIs.
Crow-Armstrong builds on breakout 2025 season
Crow-Armstrong, 24, agreed to a six-year, $115 million contract in March. He is the Cubs’ first NL MVP since Kris Bryant won the award in 2016.
The young outfielder broke out last season while helping Chicago reach the playoffs for the first time since 2020. He batted .247 with 31 home runs, 95 RBIs and 35 stolen bases in 157 games.
The left-handed hitter took another major step forward at the plate in his fourth season, particularly against left-handed pitchers. Crow-Armstrong hit .280 against southpaws in 2026, up sharply from .188 the previous year.
“I would say, like, what contributed to making myself a consistent quality at-bat and all that stuff is just, like, getting to know the strike zone just that much better,” Crow-Armstrong said before the playoffs began. “I definitely missed less pitches in the zone, in the heart of the zone, that I should be hitting this year.”
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