Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has officially joined Major League Baseball’s historic 40-40 club, reaching the rare milestone by stealing his 40th base of the season during a matchup against the Miami Marlins. Known broadly by his initials PCA, the outfielder has carried a dominant 2026 campaign that puts him firmly in line for the National League Most Valuable Player award, challenging Shohei Ohtani.
Crow-Armstrong entered the contest already holding a commanding lead in the Senior Circuit’s home run race with 45 long balls. By swiping second base against Miami, he locked in his 40th stolen base to match a statistical threshold achieved by only six players in MLB history prior to this week. His complete stat line reflects a breakout year featuring 45 home runs, 40 stolen bases, 119 runs scored, 107 RBIs, and a .280 batting average.
Challenging Ohtani for National League MVP
The stellar performance places Crow-Armstrong at the forefront of the National League MVP race, where he threatens to unseat Ohtani. Ohtani had targeted his third MVP award before knee and right elbow injuries sidelined him for virtually the entire month of September, opening a clear path for Crow-Armstrong’s historic surge.
While PCA has shown flashes of elite talent over his first two major league seasons, his output in 2026 surpassed standard expectations. By combining elite power production with aggressive base-running, he built a resume strong enough to rival Ohtani’s historic resume.
An Exclusive Historical Club
Reaching 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a single season remains one of the most difficult feats in professional baseball. Before Crow-Armstrong’s milestone, only six players had accomplished the feat across MLB history:
- José Canseco (Oakland Athletics, 1988) — The first player to reach the mark.
- Barry Bonds (San Francisco Giants, 1996)
- Alex Rodríguez (Seattle Mariners, 1998)
- Alfonso Soriano (2006)
- Ronald Acuña Jr. (Atlanta Braves, 2023) — Ending a 17-year gap between members.
- Shohei Ohtani (2024) — Who subsequently pushed past it into the unprecedented 50-50 club.
Crow-Armstrong now joins this elite group as the seventh member, etching his name alongside past legends and MVPs.
Next Steps for the Cubs
The Chicago Cubs continue their series against the Miami Marlins as the regular season winds down, with final MVP voting and playoff preparations looming. Fans can follow official MLB updates and box scores through the league’s official channels as Crow-Armstrong looks to close out his historic campaign.
