CHICAGO — While many MLB stars choose to enjoy their hefty end-of-season bonuses, Pete Crow-Armstrong — the promising centerfielder of the Chicago Cubs — shocked the world by announcing that he would donate half of his 2025 bonus to homeless relief funds. The surprising decision not only stunned Cubs fans, but also deeply touched the baseball world.
From the season’s “pre-arbitration bonus pool,” PCA received $1,206,207 — enough to change anyone’s life.
But instead of spending or investing for the future, PCA chose to share its good fortune with people who are struggling with life and do not have stable housing. The decision resonated without words — like a powerful message: “Success must come with responsibility to the community.”
The 2025 season was a breakout year for PCA: he not only became a force on the field, but also received a well-deserved bonus from the non-arbitration player bonus system.
But beyond all the statistics — home runs, stolen bases, WAR — it was his choice to “give back” that surprised everyone.
An inside source revealed: PCA contacted a Chicago-based charity that supports the homeless, to make a large advance payment — nearly half a million dollars — as soon as the bonus was determined. PCA wanted to personally ensure that the money would be used to buy food, blankets, shelter, and — if possible — help some people find a home again.
The scene of welcome: When PCA arrived at the charity’s office with an envelope and a bundle of money, many employees burst into tears. There were people who had been sleeping on the streets, now given a chance to start over thanks to a pitch — indirectly, but meaningfully.
The news quickly spread through the MLB community. Some of PCA’s teammates — who were aiming for a million-dollar contract — called the decision “one of the nicest things a young player has ever done.” One former star shared that he “has never seen such selflessness from a guy who is still building his name.”
Cubs fans were erupting: on social media, many wrote that PCA deserved to be seen not just as “a star on the field,” but as “a guy with a heart bigger than Wrigley Field.” One fan wrote: “He could have bought a supercar, a mansion — but he chose to help the homeless. That’s a role model for the world to follow.”
For the media, this is the most beautiful “twist” of the MLB winter: not a shocking trade, not a huge contract — but a humane act that makes everyone stop and think.
PCA has never hidden his ambition to become a big star. But this time, he proves: class is not only in hitting, throwing, but in the heart. The fact that he used his bonus to help homeless people can be considered the most meaningful throw in the field — a throw that brings hope, comfort and a chance to live.
A source from the charity said that the amount of money PCA sent was enough to support more than 200 homeless people for 6 months — the cost of blankets, food, primary health care. “No one knows who he is,” said the organization’s representative. “We just know that someone really wants to help.”
With this decision, Pete Crow-Armstrong isn’t just making a beautiful story for himself — he’s perhaps redefining how a player should live, how he should give. Great pitches and great hits are sometimes one-season affairs; but kindness — that’s the legacy, the inspiration, the reason baseball fans believe in something better.
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