Pete Crow-Armstrong becomes first MLB player to hit 20-20 this season

Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong reached a significant milestone on Wednesday night, becoming the first Major League Baseball player to record at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases during the 2026 season. Crow-Armstrong achieved the feat in the third inning of a 9-7 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, hitting his 20th home run of the year off Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer.

The 24-year-old outfielder finished the night with 21 home runs and 23 stolen bases. This performance marks his second consecutive season with at least 20 homers and 20 steals, making him only the third player in Cubs history to achieve multiple 20-20 campaigns, joining Ryne Sandberg and Sammy Sosa. Furthermore, only Sosa and Crow-Armstrong have accomplished this feat in back-to-back seasons.

Historic Pace and Elite Company

Crow-Armstrong reached the 20-20 threshold in the Cubs’ 92nd game of the season. His rapid pace has placed him among a select group of players in MLB history. According to data cited by MLB.com, he is one of only four players to achieve a 20-20 output before their team’s 95th game in multiple seasons, joining Alfonso Soriano, Jose Canseco, and Bobby Bonds.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell praised the young outfielder’s development, noting that while these are small-timeframe accomplishments, they represent the kind of production typically associated with the game’s greats. “It’s still a very young career,” Counsell said. “But he’s doing things that the greats in the game have done.”

Dominance Over the Splitter

Crow-Armstrong’s offensive success on Wednesday was highlighted by his ability to hit Dean Kremer’s splitter. After hitting his first homer in the third inning, he connected on a second splitter in the fifth inning for another solo shot. According to Statcast, the second home run had an exit velocity of 106.7 mph.

This performance made Crow-Armstrong only the fourth batter in the Statcast Era—dating back to 2015—to hit two home runs off splitters in the same game. The last player to achieve this was Manny Machado in 2021. Crow-Armstrong’s success against the pitch is a notable evolution; entering this season, he had hit .188 with a .208 slugging percentage against split-finger fastballs in his career.

Cubs Outslug Orioles in Team Effort

The Cubs’ 9-7 win was powered by a five-homer outburst. In addition to Crow-Armstrong’s two home runs, Michael Conforto, Carson Kelly, and Seiya Suzuki also cleared the fence. The game remained competitive as the Orioles attempted a late-inning comeback. After trailing 9-3 in the seventh, Baltimore narrowed the gap through home runs from Tyler O’Neill and Coby Mayo.

The Orioles’ rally was ultimately halted by the Cubs’ defense and bullpen. In the eighth inning, with Baltimore threatening, Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson made a diving catch on a line drive by Gunnar Henderson to preserve the lead. Jacob Webb then secured the win for Chicago, pitching a perfect ninth inning to earn his fourth save of the season.

Despite the loss, the Orioles saw a strong offensive performance from Jackson Holliday, who finished the game 4-for-4. The Cubs, who have now won 18 of their last 24 games, will look to complete a three-game sweep of the Orioles on Thursday.

Summary of Crow-Armstrong’s 2026 Milestone

When asked about the historic milestones and comparisons to franchise legends, Crow-Armstrong remained focused on his immediate future. “I don’t,” he said regarding the attention. “I’ve got a lot more baseball to play.”

Find more reporting in our Sport news section.