Pete Crow-Armstrong’s early-season production looked poor, but last season’s post–All-Star Break performance was even worse, and his current season results improved substantially after April 15. His out-of-zone swing rate has dropped sharply, falling from 41.3% during his first three big-league seasons to 38.2% overall this season, and to 34.5% after April 14. In May, his out-of-zone swing rate reached 29.4%, which is better than league average. His zone-swing rate has stayed mostly steady, while his walk rate more than doubled from 4.5% in 2025 to 9.1% in 2026. The improved pitch selection has also supported stronger contact and increased exit velocity.
"It's easy to look at the 94 wRC+ Pete Crow-Armstrong has posted so far this season and surmise that his issues from the end of 2025 have carried over to this season. But that's just not the case. For one thing, PCA's post-All-Star Break numbers from last season were WAY worse (72 wRC+). For another, PCA got off to a brutal start this season (first 68 PAs: 39 wRC+) but has been a lot better since April 15 (last 152 PAs: 118 wRC+)."
"But more importantly, and more to the point, if you've actually been watching his at-bats lately, you'll notice a very different player up there in the box. Specifically, the chase that defined his first three seasons in the big leagues (41.3% out-of-zone swing rate, 6th worst in MLB) has started to come down. This season, as a whole, PCA has reduced his O-swing rate to 38.2%. Since the day he started turning things around (again, that's April 14, with north of 150 PAs), it's down to 34.5%. And in the month of May, it's down to 29.4% ... which is better than league average!"
"Now, if you'd like to pump the brakes, you can point out that he hasn't seen a similar INCREASE in his zone-swing rate, which has remained mostly steady this season (and down from 2025). But it's still a very good place to start. Even though PCA has never actually carried particularly high strikeout rates, we all know he was chasing too often, and that results in weaker contact. It also reduces a player's ability to walk. Now that he's swinging at fewer bad pitches, his walk rate has more than doubled this season, from a WELL below average 4.5% in 2025 to an above-average 9.1% rate here in 2026."
Read at Bleacher Nation
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