

CHICAGO — All the momentum behind the first-place Chicago Cubs will send Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong to Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game, where the two outfielders will be centers of attention for different reasons.
As the No. 1 projected free agent in next winter’s class, Tucker will inevitably be asked questions about his preferences and expectations, and his answers will likely reveal little about his future. A low-key personality, Tucker is focused on winning the World Series this year and adding another championship ring to the 2022 jewelry he earned with the Houston Astros. A fantastic half-season at Wrigley Field means he can no longer be considered an underrated superstar.
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Crow-Armstrong, 23, developed his game at such a rapid rate that the TV cameras will be following him during the July 15 showcase event at Atlanta’s Truist Park. With a unique combination of power and speed, he has already generated 21 home runs and 25 stolen bases while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field. The first-time All-Star has done it with flash and style, making a connection to the audience.
It certainly wasn’t a surprise when Tucker and Crow-Armstrong were announced as National League starting outfielders before Wednesday night’s game at Wrigley Field. If they stay healthy and productive this summer, both will likely garner MVP votes.
Your 2025 All-Stars, Chicago. 💙 pic.twitter.com/b8zplhZRA9
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 3, 2025
“They’re very different people, and I think that’s what’s cool,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “There is no one makeup or kind of approach to the game that means you’re going to be a good player. You can do it in a very different way. Essentially, it means you have to authentically be yourself. That sounds easy. It’s not that easy.
“For Kyle, it’s something that he’s kind of perfected. In a lot of ways, when you think of Kyle, this is like the perfect makeup for a major-league hitter, in terms of how even-keeled he is. It allows him to stay pitch-to-pitch, which is what hitting is. You really have to be able to take a pitch and move on, or take an at-bat and move on, and not let it somehow influence what happens next. Because we usually sabotage ourselves.
“For Pete, it’s kind of the opposite, really. He relies on emotion to fuel himself, and he needs to express it. That’s what attracts the fans to him. They see that, and you can feel it from him. You can feel his emotion.”
The full All-Star rosters will be revealed Sunday, and other Cubs remain under consideration, particularly given the club’s first-half success.
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Tucker’s presence has been a major catalyst for a team coming off back-to-back seasons with 83 wins. In executing that blockbuster trade with the Astros last offseason, the Cubs recognized they needed that anchor to provide consistent offensive production, set an example for other hitters and create more confidence in the clubhouse.
Tucker, who earned All-Star selections in each of his last three seasons with the Astros, went through a minimal adjustment period in Chicago. He’s hitting .290 with 17 home runs, 52 RBIs, 20 stolen bases and a .926 OPS. That all-around consistency elevates his teammates.
This All-Star trip will set the stage for a huge second half and some monumental franchise decisions, from how to handle the July 31 trade deadline to how to approach Tucker’s camp in a negotiation that will be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
(Photo of Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker: Geoff Stellfox / Getty Images)
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