Forget the home runs: All-Star Game gives Pete Crow-Armstrong stage to showcase ever-evolving defense

NEW YORK — Cubs third-base coach Quintin Berry wasn’t sure what kind of reaction to expect from center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.

In the spring, Berry and first-base coach Jose Javier, who work with Cubs outfielders, took a plan to Crow-Armstrong to improve his first step. Instead of standing flat-footed, they wanted him to add a little bit of bounce, almost like an infielder.

‘‘He knows how good he is,’’ Berry said in a conversation with the Sun-Times. ‘‘And he knows he’s been probably one of the best center fielders his whole life. So to come to somebody with an area that you think he can get better at, you just don’t know.

‘‘He was so receptive to it. He was so interested. He wanted to see what it looked like.’’

After Crow-Armstrong’s first full major-league season in 2024, it was clear he had room to grow offensively. Building on his strong finish to last season, he has exceeded expectations in that department, making him an obvious choice to start the All-Star Game on Tuesday in Atlanta.

Crow-Armstrong’s elite defense, on the other hand, had bought him playing time even when he was struggling at the plate. It would have been understandable for him to ignore Berry’s suggestion. But that’s not Crow-Armstrong’s style.

He’s the kind of player who will hear a question about what he has been most proud of on defense this season and instead will focus on a part of his game he wants to refine — throwing to bases, in this case. Motivation to improve isn’t an issue.

‘‘I believe I’m the best; I’d like to be able to back that up with the award that says so,’’ Crow-Armstrong told the Sun-Times recently. ‘‘What you see on the highlight reels are the homers and the walk-off wins and all the fun, exciting stuff. But as I’ve continued to learn a little bit more being up here, I’m such a fan of just proper, clean baseball.’’

Similarly, manager Craig Counsell said he has been more impressed by Crow-Armstrong’s defense than by his 25 home runs before the All-Star break.

‘‘Not as exciting,’’ Counsell said, ‘‘but I think it is, in a lot of ways, more exciting because it just feels more stable. Defense just feels more stable.’’

In the spring, Javier helped put together video for Crow-Armstrong — including clips of Christian Yelich, whom Berry worked with during his time with the Brewers, Andrew McCutchen and Jacob Young — to show the difference that an adjustment in pre-pitch routine can make.

In explaining the concept, Berry drew from Sir Isaac Newton’s First Law of Motion: An object in motion will stay in motion.

‘‘He’s such a talented athlete, it took him, like, a week of just finding out whatever rhythm and timing he wanted, and he just ran with it,’’ Berry said. ‘‘He’s been flying out of the gates ever since.’’

Now Crow-Armstrong bends his knees during the pitcher’s delivery, sinking a little deeper into a ready position, and hops at contact.

The adjustment has helped him go from being ranked No. 51 in the majors in Statcast’s outfield reaction metric last season to No. 5 this season.

Crow-Armstrong entered play Sunday tied for the lead among major-league outfielders in outs above average (15) this season with the Red Sox’ Ceddanne Rafaela.

‘‘I tell everybody, ‘He’s the best center fielder I’ve ever seen,’ ’’ Berry said. ‘‘I’ve never seen anybody with the confidence and the ability that he has. It’s unbelievable.’’

While Crow-Armstrong’s power numbers this season have provided a surprise boost to the Cubs’ offense, his defensive ability has put him in the MVP conversation.

According to FanGraphs, which puts a premium on defense, Crow-Armstrong is ranked No. 2 in WAR among National League hitters, behind only Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani.

There’s still, however, a long runway for the regular-season awards battle. Up next is the All-Star Game at Truist Park, where Crow-Armstrong will have an even bigger stage to show off the extra edge his first step has given his already-elite defense.

‘‘Feeling like I have a chance to go win a Gold Glove every year, I want to do that,’’ he said. ‘‘So I just love the idea that defense is equally important as offense in a lot of ways.’’