Crow-Armstrong was drafted by the New York Mets with the 19th overall pick of the 2020 MLB draft. During the 2021 trade deadline, Crow-Armstrong was traded to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Javier Báez and Trevor Williams.
Crow-Armstrong was considered one of the top prospects for the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.[7][8][9] He was selected in the first round with the 19th overall selection by the New York Mets.[10] He signed with the Mets on June 25 for a bonus of $3.4 million.[11] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the pandemic.[12]
2021: MiLB debut
To begin the 2021 season, he was assigned to the St. Lucie Mets of the Low-ASoutheast League.[13] On May 18, it was announced that Crow-Armstrong would undergo surgery on his right shoulder for a glenoid labral articular disruption, ending his 2021 season.[14] Over 24 at-bats prior to the injury, he hit .417 with four RBIs and two stolen bases.[15]
Chicago Cubs
On July 30, 2021, the Mets traded Crow-Armstrong to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Javier Báez and Trevor Williams.[16] On September 16, 2024, he revealed his feelings about the trade, saying, "I didn’t feel like I was a part of any trade talks that I had seen on TV or anything like that." He continued, "I had a sling on my shoulder… I thought it was a joke."[17]
On February 6, 2023, Crow-Armstrong was invited as one of the 32 non-roster players to be included in the Cubs' spring training camp.[22] He was optioned to the Tennessee Smokies of the Double-ASouthern League to open the 2023 season.[23] He began the season as the Cubs' number one prospect and the sixth-ranked outfielder prospect in the MLB.[24] He was selected to represent the Cubs at the 2023 All-Star Futures Game.[25]
On July 31, Crow-Armstrong was promoted to the Triple-AIowa Cubs. In 73 games at Double-A Tennessee, Crow-Armstrong slashed .289/.371/.527 with 14 home runs, 60 runs batted in, 68 runs scored, and 27 steals.[26] In 34 games for Iowa, he slashed .271/.350/.479 with six home runs, two triples, seven doubles, 30 runs on 38 hits, and 22 RBIs.[27]
On September 11, 2023, after recording a .876 OPS on the year in Double-A and Triple-A, Crow-Armstrong was called up to the major leagues for the first time.[28] After being activated prior to that day's game against the Colorado Rockies, he entered the game in the seventh inning as a pinch runner but was caught stealing third base. In the ninth inning, he made his first career plate appearance, which resulted in a successful sacrifice bunt.[29] Crow-Armstrong made his first MLB start on September 12 in center field. He went 0-for-4 with an RBI fielder's choice and made two highlight-reel plays in the outfield.[citation needed]
2024: Rookie season
Crow-Armstrong was optioned to Triple-A Iowa to begin the 2024 season after slashing .138/.194/.435 with four hits, four runs scored, an RBI, and three stolen bases in spring training.[30]
Crow-Armstrong was recalled to the majors on April 24, 2024, after an injury to Cody Bellinger.[31] In the sixth inning of the following game, Crow-Armstrong collected his first career hit, a go-ahead two-run home run, off of Bryan Abreu, against the Houston Astros.[32]
International career
Crow-Armstrong first joined USA Baseball in 2014 when he joined the 12U National Team. The team went 7–2 during the COPABE U-12 Pan-American Championship earning a silver medal after losing Nicaragua. In 2016, he was a member of the 14U National Team Development Program and in 2017 he joined the 15U National Team. The squad would qualify for gold at the COPABE U-15 Pan-American Championships after the gold medal game was canceled. In 2018, Crow-Armstrong joined the 18U National Team. He started every game for the U.S. and helped them earn gold at the COPABE U-18 Pan-American Championships. In 2019, he started in the 17U National Team Development Program but was called up to the 18U National Team for the 2019 U-18 Baseball World Cup. Crow-Armstrong finished the tournament with a .364 batting average, 12 hits, nine runs scored, four doubles, three triples, and three stolen bases. Not only did Team USA win gold, but Crow-Armstrong was named to the U-18 All-World Team.[33][34]