Nobody saw this coming, not the analysts, not the fans, and certainly not the MVP oddsmakers, but this 23-year-old has completely changed the game in the National League. Cubs fans are buzzing like it’s October in May! What began as a few impressive games has blossomed into a full-blown Chicago baseball renaissance. Now, with summer just around the corner, the baseball world is starting to whisper something that seemed impossible just weeks ago: Is Pete Crow-Armstrong outshining Shohei Ohtani in the MVP race?

Pete Crow-Armstrong’s rapid ascent has completely flipped the 2025 MVP race. In late May, the Chicago Cubs rookie shocked everyone by notching two six-RBI games in just eight days, including a grand slam that caught national attention. According to the Daily Herald, no Cub had ever pulled off two six-RBI games in a single month since RBIs became an official stat in 1920.

That grand slam on May 23 sent ripples through the baseball community, and MLB Network Radio chimed in: “Let the NL MVP discussions begin.” Crow-Armstrong wasn’t just having a hot streak; he was redefining what was possible. In Cincinnati, he went 3-for-5 with two home runs and six RBIs in a 13–6 Cubs victory, becoming the only player in MLB to have both a dozen home runs and a dozen stolen bases at that point in the season.

By mid-May, FanGraphs had him leading the National League in WAR (2.8), second only to Aaron Judge across all of baseball. Cubs manager Craig Counsell praised his growth: “He’s taken a big step offensively… and defensively. He’s an impact player.” Over his last 28 games, Crow-Armstrong has slugged an impressive .750 with 31 RBIs—a performance that few anticipated.

Beyond the Box Score in MLB : Context and Consequences

Crow-Armstrong kicked off 2025 with a reputation more tied to the Javier Báez trade than as a potential MVP. A first-round pick in 2020 boasting impressive skills, he hadn’t even hit 10 home runs in the minors before this season. That’s what makes his current performance so thrilling: he wasn’t on anyone’s preseason MVP radar — and now, he might just be leading the pack.

This sudden shift has sparked discussions about how the criteria for MVP are changing. Shohei Ohtani came into 2025 as the clear frontrunner — MLB.com even labeled him a “near-universal preseason pick” for the award. However, with no pitching appearances and a decent but somewhat underwhelming stat line (.970 OPS, six home runs, five steals), his campaign feels a bit lackluster.

Then there’s the issue of Shohei Ohtani‘s fatigue. Having already won the award twice, it seems like the narrative is shifting. Without his two-way dominance in play, Ohtani’s allure has dimmed a bit. The spotlight is now on players like Crow-Armstrong, who are energizing fanbases and reviving exciting storylines. “This isn’t about the best name — it’s about the biggest impact,” noted one analyst from ESPN.

The buzz around Crow-Armstrong’s rise has been nothing short of electric. Social media exploded with “#PCAforMVP” memes, and podcasts like Silver Linings couldn’t stop raving about his leap from obscurity. Even Sports Illustrated jumped on board, dubbing him a “two-way playmaker” performing at an MVP level. While some experts caution that the season is still long, others argue it’s time to recognize the emerging stars who are making the league more unpredictable.

Whether Crow-Armstrong can keep up this pace remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure: the MVP race has a fresh face, and the conversation surrounding it is definitely more exciting.