Pete Crow-Armstrong: The New Standard in Outfield Excellence

Pete Crow-Armstrong is marking his third full season in the major leagues as an outstanding outfielder. Kevin Kiermaier, a seasoned outfielder with excellent credentials, recognized Crow-Armstrong’s potential even when he was in the minors. Kiermaier, known for his exceptional defensive skills during his time with the Tampa Bay Rays, spoke about Crow-Armstrong’s abilities.

“I heard of this dude, ‘PCA, PCA, PCA, he might be your caliber player,’ and I’m like, OK, and I saw the highlights and just his speed, his arm, everything,” Kiermaier told the Tribune. “OK, this dude is good. But I need to see more.”

During Kiermaier’s last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, he watched Crow-Armstrong firsthand during a series at Dodger Stadium and was impressed by his defensive prowess. Kiermaier considers him the best defensive outfielder, a view backed by Crow-Armstrong’s escalating success. He achieved his first Gold Glove Award and is likely to receive another for his 2026 performance.

Kiermaier remarked on Crow-Armstrong’s potential to be recognized among the best ever in outfield defense. With impressive in-game statistics, Crow-Armstrong stands out. For instance, he averages +5.0 feet above average on jumps and is the top in MLB for feet covered. His ability to make challenging catches is noteworthy, surpassing Kiermaier for most 5-star catches since the Statcast’s tracking inception.

Through midseason, Crow-Armstrong has accomplished 35 5-star catches over 1,123 innings with a remarkable 54.7% success rate on challenging balls. In comparison, Kiermaier had 32 such catches in 2,118 innings. Though Kiermaier’s first two seasons’ data is excluded, Crow-Armstrong still surpasses his predecessor.

“I saw what his innings were compared to mine and the catches, and he is amazing at covering ground and how quick he can get from point A to point B and make catches a lot of other guys don’t even get close to, so Cubs fans, Cubs pitchers, they’re spoiled.”

Kiermaier expressed admiration for Crow-Armstrong’s consistent performance and how his play often earns the crowd’s cheers. His exceptional skills create many memorable moments on the field.

Kiermaier, reflecting on his own career as a former outfielder, values the advanced metrics that track Outs Above Average (OAA). Kiermaier holds 91 career OAA, more than any other outfielder in the category. Meanwhile, Crow-Armstrong currently has 59 OAA, closing in on this metric.

“When Kiermaier roamed the outfield, he prayed that if the pitcher wasn’t going to strike out the batter that the ball be hit to him, particularly in a sacrifice fly situation where it comes down to the outfielder to prevent the run from scoring.”

Kiermaier, now retired and mentoring young prospects, founded the 3-9 Effect program to improve defensive techniques in outfielders. His experience aids in coaching the next generation of athletes on mastering defensive skills.

Over the years, Kiermaier and Crow-Armstrong have exchanged messages, with Kiermaier offering supportive words. They have yet to meet in person, but Kiermaier acknowledges Crow-Armstrong’s brilliance on the field and how he reminds others of his own career approach.

“PCA is unreal, and he’s going to be elite for years to come,” Kiermaier said. “He deserves all the praise and credit that he’s getting because there’s levels to this and he is the highest level out there.”