The Chicago Cubs have had a whirlwind first half of the season, filled with dramatic moments, from devastating injuries to incredible stretches of play. As we approach the All-Star Break, it's time to hand out some awards and reflect on the eventful first three-and-a-half months. Personally, I think the MVP award should go to Pete Crow-Armstrong, who has been a bona fide superstar this season. Crow-Armstrong leads the Cubs in WAR and is the only player in Major League Baseball with a higher WAR than Shohei Ohtani, considering he has accrued value as both a pitcher and hitter. What makes this particularly fascinating is that Crow-Armstrong is just 24 years old and in only his second full big-league season. The sky really might be the limit for him, and the $115 million extension he signed with the Cubs might be an absolute steal for this team. In my opinion, the Cy Young award should go to Ben Brown, RHP. If Brown wasn't on the IL, he very well might be on the All-Star team right now. His 2.2 WAR leads all Cubs pitchers amid a true breakout season. The Rookie of the Year award is a tough one, but I'd give it to Ryan Rolison, LHP. Rolison exceeded his rookie limits last year with the Rockies and has been a savior in the bullpen for the Cubs. As for the Silver Slugger, it's a no-brainer that it should go to Pete Crow-Armstrong again. His batting average is up 44 points year over year, and his .917 OPS is stellar. The Gold Glove award should go to Pete Crow-Armstrong, who won a Gold Glove last season and looks well on his way to taking it home this year. The biggest surprise of the first half was the slump of Nico Hoerner. Hoerner had a .285 combined batting average from 2021-25, but this year, he sits at .233 entering the break. The best NBA Jam "ON FIRE!" Performance goes to Dansby Swanson, who had an incredible 10-game span with 8 homers and 26 RBI. The best win of the first half was the 4-3 victory over the Brewers, which was a huge win for the Cubs. The toughest loss was the 9-8 defeat to the White Sox, which hurt the fanbase and the team's morale. The best walk-off of the first half was the May 4 game against the Reds, where Michael Conforto drove an opposite-field homer into the bleachers to give the Cubs an exhilarating 5-4 victory. Overall, the Cubs have had a rollercoaster first half of the season, but with 66 games remaining, the second half promises to be even more exciting.
