PCA's Generational June

11 homers, a reverse cycle, and the best June in baseball — PCA has become the ideal leadoff hitter

Jul 02, 2026

Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong had the best month of June he could’ve possible dreamed up. 11 homers, a .381 batting average and an MLB-leading 1.249 OPS. The result was a complete narrative shift for his season.

Anyone questioning his abilities should have zero remaining doubt. He drove in 20 runs, stole 8 bags, and cemented himself as the Cubs’ everyday leadoff hitter showing his ability to do it all on the field.

Chicago was the best team in baseball in April, but after a disastrous May — that included a 10-game losing streak — questions were swirling about the Cubs. Those questions have been answered. Chicago finished the month of June by winning 14 of their last 18, now comfortably in a Wild Card position.

Pete Crow-Armstrong was a big reason why. You could point to multiple games that the Cubs won in large part to his superstar contributions. He carried the offense while virtually everyone else — Nico Hoerner, Alex Bregman & Dansby Swanson — have under-performed.

Crow-Armstrong raised his batting average by 47 points in June, more than doubled his home run total and led all players with an astonishing 3.1 fWAR. That’s more than any other player has accumulated in a calendar month this season.

PCA walked 17 times in the month. For reference, last season, he walked 29 times total — that’s an increase of 9.2% in his walk rate. Something we’ve never seen from him before.

Of course, you can’t forget that he’s doing this at the plate while leading all players in Statcast’s Fielding Run Value, which assesses a players overall defensive value.

Here’s a look at some of his stats and ranks in the month:

AVG: .381 (2nd)
HR: 11 (T-2nd)
SLG: .781 (1st)
SB: 8 (T-3rd)
wRC+: 236 (1st)
OPS: 1.249 (1st)
fWAR: 3/1 (1st)

Perhaps the most symbolic moment of this month came on June 15th, when Crow-Armstrong hit for the cycle. He did it in the rare reverse order (Home Run → Triple → Double → Single). After his single in the 7th to cap it off, he immediately got picked off first base. Nothing could’ve been more PCA. Wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

He capped off the night with a go-ahead sac fly in the 8th, in what would end up being the winning run.

PCA has always been a streaky player, but this looks different. It looks longer-term. I mentioned the drastic increase in walk rate — the beneficiary is a lower swing rate & chase rate, by significant margins. This has been the biggest knock on PCA as a player. Yes, the strikeouts are still there, but the patience is new.

He’s become the ultimate leadoff hitter that opponents fear. He’s one of the fastest players in baseball, a top-tier base-stealing threat with 30 home run power, and now he’s become selective and comfortable? Good luck.

In the first game of July, the Cubs demolished the Padres 23-3. PCA was one of five Cubs to hit a home run. Dansby Swanson hit three homers.

PCA stopped chasing, started walking, and let his natural tools do the rest. The power was always in there. The speed and the Gold Glove-caliber defense were never in question.

If July is anything like June for the star outfielder, he’s going to be the NL MVP favorite.