What happened: Pete Crow-Armstrong has cut his swing rate 10.7 points to 49.4% and his first-pitch swing rate 14.4 points to 38.4%. His chase rate is down 7.5 points, while his zone-swing rate has fallen 13.5 points.
Why it matters: The added selectivity has paired patience with power, strengthening his NL MVP case during the stretch run. Pitchers have less freedom to expand the zone against him.
By the numbers: Through 608 plate appearances, Crow-Armstrong has 71 walks and 36 home runs. He drew 29 walks across 647 plate appearances last season.
What to watch: Watch whether the approach holds through September as pitchers adjust.