Immediately after Pete Crow-Armstrong – the young foreign midfielder of the Chicago Cubs – was officially honored with the first Gold Glove of his career, social networks exploded not only with pride but also with the emotional message from his girlfriend, posted on her personal Instagram: “You deserve all the glory in this world. Not because you are perfect, but because you never stop trying.”
The announcement ceremony of the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards 2025 took place on Sunday night (US time) and brought great joy to Cubs fans when Pete Crow-Armstrong was named in the category of Best Foreign Midfielder in the National League (NL). At 23, it was his first Gold Glove of his career – and the Cubs’ first at the position since Jason Heyward in 2017.
According to MLB.com, Crow-Armstrong leads the league in Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) at +17, and Outs Above Average (OAA) at +12, the best numbers among players under 25. A series of spectacular catches and diving saves at Wrigley Field in the 2025 season have made him a face that experts and audiences alike have hailed as “a new era of Cubs defense.”
However, what has moved the public the most has come from behind the scenes. Minutes after MLB announced the results, Pete’s girlfriend shared a photo of the two hugging at Wrigley Field after a win over the Brewers in September, with the message:
“From the days you wondered if you were good enough, to this moment – you proved it all. You are your own light, Pete.”
The post quickly surpassed 500,000 likes in just 2 hours, becoming a hot topic of discussion on X (Twitter) and Instagram. Many fans commented: “Not only did Pete win, but so did their love.” An account of NBC Sports Chicago reshared the post with the comment: “A title that came from effort. A message from the heart.”
In an interview after the award ceremony, Pete Crow-Armstrong could not hide his emotions when talking about his girlfriend and the difficult journey:
“She always believed in me, even when I no longer believed in myself. When I was sent down to Triple-A at the beginning of the season, she was the only one who told me ‘don’t be afraid, it’s just a chapter in a long book.’ Today, that new chapter is written in gold.”
Pete had a difficult time at the beginning of the 2024 season, when he was sent down to the Minor League after a series of unsatisfactory performances in MLB. However, he persevered to improve his skills, coming back strongly in the 2025 season with the best defensive stats on the Cubs roster. Head coach Craig Counsell praised: “Pete is not only a talented young player, but also an example of how to overcome challenges with discipline and humility.”
With this title, Crow-Armstrong officially entered his name on the list of the youngest foreign midfielders in Cubs history to win a Gold Glove. MLB Network called it “the beginning of a new era at Wrigley Field,” while ESPN said, “Pete is giving the Cubs something they’ve been missing for years — the belief that the future has truly begun.”
As the spotlight dimmed, Crow-Armstrong posted a brief message on his personal page:
“For all the people who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”
A title, a message, and a love — all combined into a moment that moved Chicago. With winter approaching, Pete Crow-Armstrong’s story is not just about victory on the field, but also about victory of heart, faith, and perseverance in the harsh world of baseball.
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