Pete Crow-Armstrong Still Getting Used To Calling Aaron Judge A Teammate On Team USA

The Chicago Cubs star opens up about becoming a member of a star-studded Team USA roster for the World Baseball Classic and bringing his fearless protection to the stage.

When Pete Crow-Armstrong places on a Team USA jersey, it isn’t precisely a new feeling. The Chicago Cubs heart fielder has been representing the pink, white, and blue since he was 12 years outdated. But stepping onto the sector within the World Baseball Classic alongside among the recreation’s greatest stars nonetheless feels a little surreal.

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Crow-Armstrong admitted as a lot on an upcoming episode of Boardroom Talksset to drop later this month, whereas discussing what it means to share an outfield with gamers like Aaron Judge and Byron Buxton for Team USA.

Pete Crow-Armstrong and Aaron Judge heat up earlier than an exhibition towards the Colorado Rockies. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

“I was about to say that you see me playing next to you,” Crow-Armstrong joked in response to a query in regards to the stacked roster. “That’s what makes it a little different. I’m having a hard time bringing myself back down to earth, and considering myself a teammate of theirs, I think at this point.”

For Crow-Armstrong, who has shortly constructed a popularity as certainly one of baseball’s most electrical defensive outfielders, the chance represents each a private milestone and the continuation of a lengthy national-team journey. Long earlier than he was patrolling heart subject for the Cubs, he was making performs for USA Baseball on the youth degree, gaining worldwide expertise that helped form his recreation.

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Defense, in fact, stays a calling card. Asked whether or not followers would possibly see the identical highlight-reel performs on the worldwide stage — the diving catches and wall climbs which have turn into a signature a part of his model — Crow-Armstrong did not hesitate.

“That’d be nice,” he mentioned with a grin. “It’s going to be tough in left-center in Houston, right-center. Center field, though, it’s never off limits.”

If there’s a wall to scale, he is prepared.

“There’s a pad on that thing,” Crow-Armstrong mentioned. “I’m always looking forward to it playing at Wrigley with the brick. So if there’s padding on the wall, it will be touched.”

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That fearless method has made the 23-year-old a favourite fan in Chicago and one of the thrilling younger defenders in baseball. Now, on the game’s world stage, Crow-Armstrong could have the possibility to showcase that very same vitality — chasing down fly balls, crashing into partitions, and doing no matter it takes to assist Team USA defend its place among the many world’s finest.