Pete Crow-Armstrong won the National League Gold Glove Award on November 1, 2026, earning the honor for the second straight season. The Cubs center fielder posted a .995 fielding percentage in 2025 — the most recent full season on record — with 427 putouts, just two errors, and a range factor of 2.77 per game across 156 appearances in center field. The award is the 52nd NL Gold Glove in Chicago Cubs franchise history and the first since Crow-Armstrong claimed the same honor in 2025.
Pete Crow-Armstrong's 2025 Defensive Numbers by the Book
The raw numbers that backed Crow-Armstrong's case were difficult to argue with. Playing 156 games in center field, he accumulated 434 total chances and converted them at a .995 clip. His two errors all season — zero of them throwing errors — underscore the consistency he brought to Wrigley Field's outfield grass night after night.
- Fielding percentage: .995
- Putouts: 427
- Assists: 5
- Errors: 2
- Chances: 434
- Range factor per game: 2.77
- Range factor per 9 innings: 2.87
- Innings in center field: 1,357.0
A range factor of 2.87 per nine innings is the number that stands out most. Range factor is an imperfect tool, but it is a straightforward measure of how many outs a fielder is involved in relative to innings played. Crow-Armstrong was consistently getting to balls that lesser center fielders would not.
The Back-to-Back Context
Crow-Armstrong's 2026 Gold Glove is the first Chicago Cubs NL Gold Glove since he won the award in 2025. The franchise has now collected 52 Gold Gloves all-time, and Crow-Armstrong owns two of the most recent ones. He is 24 years old this season, which makes the back-to-back achievement worth noting in its own right, even without layering on superlatives the data does not yet support.
It is also worth remembering that Crow-Armstrong is not just a glove. In 2025 he played 157 games at the plate, slashing .247/.287/.481 with 31 home runs, 95 RBI, and 35 stolen bases in 43 attempts. That is a complete player profile — someone earning his spot in the lineup on both sides of the ball, not just keeping it on the strength of a highlight reel in center.
Stolen Bases and Plate Presence Add Dimension
The offensive numbers deserve a second look in this context because they reinforce how well-rounded Crow-Armstrong's 2025 season was. His 35 stolen bases came at an 81.4 percent success rate. He hit 37 doubles and four triples in addition to the 31 home runs, totaling 284 bases across 591 at-bats. A .481 slugging percentage from a player who also covers center field at a .995 clip is a combination that makes roster decisions straightforward.
What Comes Next
Crow-Armstrong heads into the offseason as a back-to-back Gold Glove winner and one of the more productive center fielders in the National League. The Cubs finished the 2026 regular season and are now in the offseason evaluation period. Whether the front office looks to extend Crow-Armstrong or address other roster needs around him, this award adds leverage and clarity to his standing on the North Side.
Two consecutive Gold Gloves before age 25 puts Crow-Armstrong in a conversation that will only grow louder if he maintains this standard. For now, the hardware is official, the case is closed, and the Cubs have their answer in center field.
