Pete Crow-Armstrong hints he's out on HR Derby: ‘That's not for me'

New York Times

4 hours ago

CHICAGO — Pete Crow-Armstrong's breakout season makes the Chicago Cubs center fielder an obvious selection for Major League Baseball's All-Star Game. More than 1 million fans have already voted for 'PCA' to be a National League starter. But if asked by organizers for the marquee event, he signaled he would not be interested in participating in the Home Run Derby.
'That's not for me,' Crow-Armstrong said before launching his 19th home run during Tuesday night's 5-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. 'That's a different kind of power.'
SAY IT WITH US, MVPETE. pic.twitter.com/RMMXX5t35d
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 18, 2025
Yet another highlight-reel moment did not change Crow-Armstrong's mind. He feeds off the energy at the Friendly Confines, where the crowd of 38,687 chanted 'P-C-A!' and 'M-V-P!' after his eighth-inning homer off Brewers reliever Rob Zastryzny traveled an estimated 452 feet, slamming off the video board that hangs above the patio deck in right field.
Advertisement
'That's 88 miles an hour that you're sending back,' Crow-Armstrong said. 'BP pop is a different kind of pop. I don't got it like that.'
Crow-Armstrong puts on a show at game speed, not in batting practice. That huge left-handed swing happened during the same inning that saw him sprint from his central defensive position to make a spectacular diving catch in left field. He's a dynamic, wiry athlete who's listed at 6 feet and 190 pounds.
Crow-Armstrong said he doesn't know if he 'can withstand however long the timer is' for the Home Run Derby's elimination bracket. 'That would be a struggle,' he said.
At 23, Crow-Armstrong is perhaps being a little modest. He's the first player to hit that video board this season, and it marked the longest home run by a Cub this year. Either way, his chances of representing Chicago at the July 15 All-Star Game are strong.
In MLB's first ballot update released Monday, Crow-Armstrong led all NL outfielders with 1,126,119 votes. To get a sense of Crow-Armstrong's popularity, Cubs teammate Kyle Tucker ranked second among NL outfielders with 700,000-plus votes. Fans want to see 'PCA' in that showcase, running around Atlanta's Truist Park with some of the best players in the world.
'That's an indication of people appreciating your play,' Crow-Armstrong said. 'I'm definitely proud of myself that I'm giving the fans a little bit better of a round this year, up to this point. But that's all it is — up to this point.'