Despite descending into a massive slump and serving a stint on the injured list, Shohei Ohtani could have still retained his National League MVP crown. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar's 6.6 WAR is higher than plenty of past winners, but beyond that polarizing metric, voters place immense value on the sub-2.00 ERA he posted in 85-plus innings of work this season. Only an all-around talent could supplant this two-way superstar as the Senior Circuit king before September. Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has posted a truly remarkable season, but it may be more special than most even realize.

The 24-year-old is bringing whole new meaning to the term sabermetrics darling, ranking in the 100th percentile in batting and fielding run value, while also grading in the 99th percentile in baserunning run value, according to Baseball Savant.

Since tracking began in 2016, the only other players to finish in the 95th percentile in those three categories are Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (2024), Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran (2024) and then-Red Sox OF Mookie Betts (2018), per beloved MLB researcher Sarah Langs. Crow-Armstrong is the only one to ever reside in the 99th percentile for all three.

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Baseball purists might push back on the analytics, but what makes this MVP campaign particularly amazing is that it has something for everyone. The former New York Mets first-round draft pick owns a .280 batting average and 41 stolen bases, which should please old-school fans, and boasts 45 home runs, 107 RBIs, a .374 on-base percentage, .573 slugging percentage and an OPS that is hovering around .950. He is also a wizard in center, cruising toward his first Platinum Glove.

And he is also the biggest reason the Cubs just clinched a playoff berth. Pete Crow-Armstrong may be a Southern California native and the son of two actors, but make no mistake, he is a man of the people. Traditional and modern fans alike should appreciate his infectious competitive spirit, and his undeniable impact in nearly all phases of the game.

Crow-Armstrong is not done yet, though. He will now try to punctuate his historic 2026 with a postseason for the ages.