Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong hits 40th home run to boost NL MVP case

Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs has become the youngest player in franchise history to reach the 40-home run milestone. On Sunday, September 6, Crow-Armstrong hit a game-tying fifth-inning home run off Miami Marlins pitcher Tyler Phillips, giving him 40 career homers. This puts him in a select group of Chicago Cubs players who have won National League Most Valuable Player honors.

At 24 years, 165 days old, Crow-Armstrong is 49 days younger than Ernie Banks was when he hit his 40th home run in 1955. Banks went on to win NL MVP honors in both 1958 and 1959. Crow-Armstrong's impressive statistics include a .946 OPS, 33 stolen bases, and defensive metrics that surpass his rival center fielders. With the Cubs firmly entrenched in an NL playoff position, the young outfielder is expected to supplant the currently idled Shohei Ohtani, who previously won the past two NL MVP awards.