CHICAGO — The TV cameras converged around Pete Crow-Armstrong’s Wrigley Field locker after Friday’s 13-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox. The young center fielder for the Chicago Cubs stood there with a blue hood over his head, getting animated only while giving credit to his teammates. He downplayed the idea of being an MVP candidate and making the All-Star Game. He reframed a question about performing in this heated environment, as someone who thrives on emotion.
“I’d like to say it’s passion rather than emotion,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I think passion is when you see, like, the real joy. Emotion kind of goes both ways, where it’s sometimes what takes me, anybody, out of a game. But, nah, starting the way we started today feels great. It’s nice seeing the crosstown fans leave early.”
In what felt like a summer day at the Friendly Confines, the Cubs drew a crowd of 40,171, showing off their youth movement while the White Sox looked like a team coming off the worst baseball season ever.
Crow-Armstrong continues to be one of the sport’s most exciting players, going 4-for-5 with a home run and six RBIs from the leadoff spot. And Cade Horton, the organization’s top pitching prospect a week ago, did his job for five innings, earning the win on a day when, at first pitch, it was 82 degrees with the wind blowing out to center field at 21 mph.
“His stuff was loud,” Crow-Armstrong said. “He did an absolutely outstanding job of minimizing any sort of damage. I hope he liked his first taste of Wrigley. He’s going to do this for a long time.”
With a pitching prospect as gifted as Horton, everyone is simply guessing and hoping for good health. Data and technology can help monitor fatigue, track spin rates and shape game plans. Certain organizations have better reputations than others, and the Cubs are known for being progressive and collaborative in this space. But at a certain point, it comes down to certain things that are immeasurable.
So far, so good. That is the early takeaway from Horton’s introduction to The Show.
For Horton’s debut last weekend, the Cubs used an opener so he would avoid the top of the New York Mets’ lineup in his first inning. This time, the Cubs moved away from that plan, mostly because the White Sox don’t have Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Pete Alonso. It is a small sample, to be sure, but Horton has two wins in two outings with zero walks against the first 39 major-league batters he has faced.
“I don’t think anybody knows,” Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “But I will say, the one thing that really, really impressed me was just his mound presence in New York. Anyone can dive into the stuff and say, ‘Oh, it’s really good.’ The velocity’s back up. The breaking ball’s always been really good. You can measure that kind of stuff.
“But there’s something about his presence on the mound. The game never felt fast for him. He seemed to want the moments. Those are the things that you really want and need to see. He was obviously pretty locked in for that. I’m excited for what’s ahead.”
The White Sox are closer to the Triple-A competition Horton faced in Iowa than New York’s expensive collection of superstars. But after undergoing Tommy John surgery in college and missing most of last season with a major injury, Horton simply needs reps.
Horton navigated the situation after Miguel Vargas launched a 3-2 pitch into the left-field bleachers for a two-out, two-run homer in the first inning. Vargas struck again in the third inning, driving Horton’s 95 mph fastball out to center field and just over the wall. But especially when Wrigley Field is playing this way, Cubs manager Craig Counsell said, “You have to keep attacking.”
Horton stuck to his strengths, followed the game plan and made the White Sox earn it. In a big market, the Cubs have created an environment where young talent can blossom and feel like they don’t have to do too much.
Crow-Armstrong, 23, has graduated beyond just playing Gold Glove-caliber defense and stealing some bases. Horton, 23, should benefit from strong run support, steady defensive play and an established pitching infrastructure. Moisés Ballesteros, 21, even chipped in Friday with his first major-league hit, a walk, two RBIs and two runs scored.
It’s understandable why those White Sox fans headed for the exits early.
“We all want to win,” Horton said. “It’s scary when one unit comes together for a common goal.”
(Photo of Pete Crow-Armstrong: Geoff Stellfox / Getty Images)
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