Nationals James Wood and Cubs Pete Crow-Armstrong are two young superstars who do things very differently

The Washington Nationals James Wood and the Chicago Cubs Pete Crow-Armstrong are young stud outfielders, but they are so different

With the Chicago Cubs coming to DC, we are going to see two of the most exciting young outfielders in the sport in James Wood and Pete Crow-Armstrong. Both were highly touted outfield prospects who were traded early in their development and are thriving now. However, that is where the similarities end. In terms of style of play and demeanor, the two couldn’t be more different.

The Blue-Haired Dynamo:

We have talked so much about James Wood, so it is only appropriate to start with by discussing the Cubs outfield sensation Pete Crow-Armstrong. Defense has always been the name of the game for the man they call PCA. Even since he was a high schooler, Crow-Armstrong has been known for his exceptional defense. He makes it look so easy out in center field. Sometimes, he makes it look so easy that you don’t totally appreciate how awesome the play he just made was.

When he was drafted by the Mets in the first round in 2020, it was because of that elite defense. Thankfully, PCA was not in New York for long. He was traded at the 2021 trade deadline in exchange for half a season of Javier Baez and Trevor Williams. That has turned into a huge mistake for the Mets, as PCA has blossomed into a star.

The reason he has become a star is his progression with the bat. He is putting up huge numbers offensively, but he is doing it in a very different way than James Wood. Crow-Armstrong is extremely swing happy. He has a chase rate of 43.8%. For reference, free swinging Nats catcher Keibert Ruiz only chases 35.2% of the time. He only walks 4.4% of the time and strikes out a fair bit.

However, he is making this work because he has tapped into his power. Crow-Armstrong has a knack for pulling the ball in the air, doing it at an elite 29.1% clip. Those pulled fly balls are leading to slug, even on pitches out of the zone. A lot of the expected numbers suggest that PCA’s offense will regress from the .873 OPS level it is at right now. However, if PCA is a solidly above average hitter, his glove and wheels will make him a star.

Off the field, Crow-Armstrong is very different from the quiet James Wood. He is an eccentric personality. From his blue hair to his demonstrative demeanor on the field, PCA is a different cat. He is easy to market with his outgoing personality and quirkiness. This, along with his performance on the field has made him one of the breakout stars of 2025.

The Quiet Slugger:

James Wood is extremely different compared to PCA, but he is a star as well. Wood’s game is built off of his prodigious power and advanced approach. The Nats star has so much power that he does not need to pull fly balls to tap into that pop. Wood only pulls the ball in the air at an 8.5% clip, a mark that is dwarfed by PCA’s 29.1%. However, with his opposite field power, it does not matter.

While PCA generates a palpable buzz with his play in center field, Wood stuns fans with the opposite field rockets he hits. At the plate, Wood is much more patient than PCA. His 13.7% walk rate is more than triple PCA’s and he chases far less.

Honestly, their approaches match their demeanor off the field. Unlike PCA, who is expressive and always on the front foot, Wood is much more laid back. He does not seek the spotlight and everything he does almost looks nonchalant at times. Wood waits for things to come to him, while Crow-Armstrong is just a ball of energy. That manifests itself at the plate and off the field.

Wood has gotten better on defense, particularly in the last six weeks. His routes are cleaner and he looks more assured. However, he is an average defender at best, nothing close to PCA. Wood’s offensive upside is much higher though. His .952 OPS seems more sustainable than Crow-Armstrong’s .873 mark. While PCA is an eccentric all around talent, Wood is a patient slugger.

Long Term Outlook:

Inevitably, the question will come up about which one of these guys you want long term. As a Nationals fan, you should know who I would take, but it is an interesting discussion. Right now, PCA’s defense is giving him the edge when it comes to WAR. If he can sustain this offensive level, his defense makes it hard for Wood to compete unless he goes to yet another level offensively.

However, I believe Wood can find even more offensive juice. Crow-Armstrong’s approach still needs refinement for him to sustain this level. However, that defense is just so special. He already has 10 outs above average. But at the end of the day, I think James Wood can be the best hitter in baseball one day. That is just so valuable to me, and PCA cannot match that.

These two guys are going to be faces of the league for years to come. They are both outfielders who got traded at a young age, who are making their old teams pay with their breathtaking skills. It is just interesting how these guys have become stars in such different ways.

Seeing them on the field together is going to be so exciting and hopefully these guys can meet in a playoff setting some day. Baseball stars come in all different shapes, sizes and personality types. James Wood and Pete Crow-Armstrong show this. Now it is time to watch these two phenoms go head to head.