Michael Reaves/Getty
SAN FRANCISCO — The biggest piece of advice Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong carried from his brief time in the Mets’ organization came from taking fly balls with Kevin Pillar and Albert Almora in spring training of 2021, leading into his first pro season.
‘‘It was when I decided that I was better off running with the baseball rather than trying to beat the baseball to the spot,’’ he said in a conversation with the Sun-Times. ‘‘You’re always taught growing up to beat the baseball to the spot, but they actually said, ‘Take a little bit more time to get your read and rely on your speed later if you have to.