Pete Crow-Armstrong can’t help but marvel at Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams’ athleticism.
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The Cubs’ 23-year-old center fielder has spent a chunk of the offseason in the city and attended a few Bears games, notably their comeback win over the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round and Sunday’s overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Those experiences gave him an in-person look at Williams’ success — and left Crow-Armstrong wowed.
Williams’ ability to manipulate his arm slot and throwing position while delivering precision on the move captured Crow-Armstrong’s attention. He was stunned to learn Williams had not played baseball, given his adaptability on throws.
“His tool kit is massive,” Crow-Armstrong said Saturday at the Cubs Convention. “He’s the franchise quarterback. I hope he’s here for a long time.
“Visually, the plays he’s making are what they are, but then as they go deeper in the year, we’re finally getting to see him lead a team. He’s built for it. He’s authentic and genuine with what he wants, so I’m a fan for sure.”
Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner and Jameson Taillon were among the Cubs who attended Sunday’s game at Soldier Field.
“It’s buzzing here,” Crow-Armstrong said of Chicago. “I mean, I’m trying to act my age and live here and spend time here before it becomes about my job that I love so much. But I’ve just really enjoyed kind of getting to do everything.”
Over the last few months, Crow-Armstrong and Williams have developed a growing friendship. They crossed paths in a very Gen-Z way, Crow-Armstrong explained: through social media.
“I’d always see him come to some (Cubs) games the last couple summers, and he’d always just be very supportive from afar,” Crow-Armstrong said. “And now that I have some time on my hands and wanting to be out here, it’s a pretty cool perk, being able to just go and show up and watch.
“But then we just started to talk and dive deeper into some certain conversations, and I really respect what he does.”
Crow-Armstrong, a Southern California native, is in the process of taking full-time residence in Chicago. The postseason exposure in October gave him a glimpse of what 2026 could hold if the Cubs can build on last year’s success.
Like most people, Crow-Armstrong found out about the team’s big signing during the Bears-Packers playoff game, getting a text about the addition of third baseman Alex Bregman while stress-watching from the Soldier Field stands.
Crow-Armstrong is “freaking pumped” about what he has heard from Bregman and expects him to quickly become an influential figure on the Cubs. He spent 20 to 30 minutes chatting with Bregman at his locker when he came to the ballpark after signing. The conversation centered on the Cubs’ and Crow-Armstrong’s plan for him to take another step forward this year.
“I thought that was the coolest thing ever,” Crow-Armstrong said. “He’s already instilled some confidence in me that I need to hear sometimes. So I’m just glad I’ve got another person in my corner because it’s only ever been that here, but now he’s in that when it comes to the hitting side of baseball, and I love that.”
The Cubs will need another stellar all-around performance from Crow-Armstrong to accomplish their aspirations. For as much attention as he garnered last year — from getting voted into the All-Star Game as a starter to producing only the third season with 30 home runs and 30 steals in franchise history — Crow-Armstrong hasn’t shied away from the attention and pressure.
The way Chicago and its sports fans have embraced other young stars such as Williams and Blackhawks center Connor Bedard hasn’t gone unnoticed by Crow-Armstrong either.
“People have got something to root for and can, I think, plan on us being around for a long time,” Crow-Armstrong said. “But the way those dudes handle it, it’s really pro. I’m always willing to take some bit or piece from anybody, no matter the sport. If I feel like they carry themselves well, then they’ll always be somebody that I look to.”
Crow-Armstrong and Williams got a close-up look at Bedard on Monday from their front-row seats at the United Center. They visited the Hawks locker room after the 2-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Before leaving, Williams shouted, “Where’s Bedsy?” and got his black Bedard jersey signed by the Hawks star.
“Really cool to talk to them and just kind of pick their brains,” Hawks defenseman Alex Vlasic said of Williams and Crow-Armstrong. “It’s cool anytime you get to meet somebody that’s a professional athlete in another sport and then see the differences and the similarities. They’re really good people and great players for the city of Chicago.”
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Justin Steele is staying patient — and eyeing his return
Steele and the Cubs aren’t ready to declare when the left-hander will be ready to rejoin the rotation this year.
However, Steele took a step forward in his rehab process Friday when he threw off a mound for the first time since undergoing season-ending elbow surgery in April. Steele said Saturday he is feeling really good and hasn’t suffered any setbacks.
“There hasn’t really been any hiccups at all through this process,” he said. “It’s felt good the entire time. If anything, we’re ahead of schedule. Kind of been pushing the envelope the entire time, wanting to get off the mound, push the footage back as far as the throwing progression goes. But, yeah, it’s full steam ahead.”
Steele expects his surgeon, Dr. Keith Meister, will want him to be on some sort of innings limit for 2026, so he anticipates that would affect when he comes back, though the belief is it will be early in the season. The Cubs envision playing in October and making a deeper run this year, lessening the rush to get Steele back as soon as possible, especially with the depth they have built for the rotation.
“It definitely eases your mind knowing that it’s not a race to get back for opening day or something for that reason,” Steele said of pitching in October. “There’s definitely some comfortability knowing that I don’t have to rush out, and of course it’s going to be hard during spring training when everybody’s preparing and getting ready and I’m preparing and getting ready and I’m going to want to leave with the team. But there won’t be anything forced as far as getting me ready for the season or anything.”
Cubs have ‘really high’ belief in Moisés Ballesteros
The Cubs don’t have a full picture of how they will allocate playing time at designated hitter.
But if Ballesteros is on the opening roster, there is a “really high” comfort level in the 22-year-old getting a lot of those DH at-bats, general manager Carter Hawkins said Saturday.
“He showed that he can make a professional at-bat, he can handle the environment, the ability to do that in big situations later in the year last year,” Hawkins said. “Whether he starts with the club or not, we feel like he’s a great option for us, and we feel like he’s going to be a great hitter in this league for a long time.
“In terms of his ability to help us out, we have a lot of confidence.”
The Cubs return Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya behind the plate, which would limit opportunities for Ballesteros to continue to improve as a catcher at the big-league level. Amaya is fully recovered after a left ankle sprain in mid-August ended his season.
Tribune reporter Kalen Lumpkins contributed.