Pete Crow-Armstrong’s Excellent Catch, Excellent Glove, and Excellent Reputation

Earlier this week, Chicago Cubs center field prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong made one of the catches he’s been making in the minors that demonstrates what’s truly special about his glove, and why he has gotten the exceedingly rare 80-grade placed on it.

This was the catch, if you missed it:

We know PCA can do that kind of thing with regularity, but I definitely wanted to hammer home why it’s so impressive:

Here’s Pete Crow-Armstrong, himself, talking about the catch – how he anticipates that kind of play in the first place – and a PERFECT bonus appearance from third base coach Willie Harris:

Gotta agree with Harris there. Sick play. More of ’em coming.

Here’s David Ross on the catch and on PCA, via Marquee:

Tuesday at Cubs camp, Ross was asked if prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong’s defense lived up to the hype.

“I would be silly to label him after seeing a couple of fly balls,” Ross said.

Before Tuesday, most of the action that Crow-Armstrong had seen defensively would likely be labeled routine. But that changed in Surprise against the Rangers, when he made a stellar, diving catch in right center field that he chased down.

“As soon as I saw it, I said there’s the one they were looking for,” Ross said with a smile. “Wish I woulda gotten that a day earlier so I could’ve commented on it. That was a heckuva play. We’ve heard a lot about his athleticism and his ability to go get the baseball. I hadn’t seen one better than that one, that’s for sure. Spectacular play. That brought me up out of my seat. That was a fun one to watch.”