Ex-Mets prospect traded in controversial deadline deal finally has an MLB hit and it’s a big one

Of all the prospects the New York Mets have traded in recent seasons, Pete Crow-Armstrong looks like the one most abruptly dealt for so little in return. Sent to the Chicago Cubs in the middle of the 2021 season for Javier Baez and Trevor Williams, it was a controversial deadline deal at the time made even more so by how great Crow-Armstrong was in the minors in the last two seasons.

The first-round pick of the Mets in 2020, the letters PCA have been haunting more than former Mets GM Zack Scott. His prominent rise up the rankings as a legitimate top prospect in baseball had fans pining for a time machine to redo the deal that sent him away from New York. Considering the Mets failed to even make the postseason the year they had Baez and Williams together, it’s easy to see why this still bothers some fans.

After 19 hitless plate appearances in 2023 and just a .203/.241/.392 start in 19 minor league games, the Cubs called up the young center fielder to replace injured Cody Bellinger. They were rewarded in his first start on Thursday when he hit a go-ahead home run against the Houston Astros. It put the Cubs up 3-1, a score which would stand until the final out.

Former Mets prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong is coming to Citi Field next week, too

If there’s any consolation, at least he got the big blast out of the way early? After the Mets play the St. Louis Cardinals, it’s Crow-Armstrong and the Cubs who come to Queens. We can only hope Crow-Armstrong isn’t feeling too confident with a power surge.

At the very least, we should expect Crow-Armstrong to use his speed. He stole 32 bases in 2022 and another 37 last year. His game is imperfect. His 129 strikeouts in 500 plate appearances down on the farm last season was certainly a bit high. However, an overall slash line of .283/.365/.511 plus 20 home runs and 82 RBI seemed to make up for it.

The Cubs and Mets are oddly linked this year. Whether it’s Crow-Armstrong, the Cubs’ hiring of Craig Counsell, or those constant assumptions that they’ll end up with Pete Alonso on their roster, it’s hard to go too long without the teams crossing paths. They officially do next week in what we can only hope isn’t an early showcase of PCA’s talents.

At the very least, prepare for Crow-Armstrong to use his legs against the Mets and maybe steal a run or two from them with his glove.