Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong said that he “regrets” his choice of words during an exchange with a fan during a loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday in Chicago. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
Chicago Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong was fined an undisclosed total for aiming vulgarities at a fan in Chicago, a source familiar with the matter told UPI on Wednesday.
The exchange, which was caught on video, occurred in the fifth inning of a 9-8 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field, the home of the Cubs’ intracity rivals.
Crow-Armstrong said Monday that he regretted his “choice of words.” He also said he let the moment “get away from me a little bit.”
The Cubs held a 4-2 lead on the White Sox entering the bottom of the fifth frame. Starter Colin Rea walked outfielder Tristan Peters to start the half inning. Right fielder Derek Hill flew out in the next exchange.
Left fielder Sam Antonacci followed with a single. Rea forced first baseman Munetaka Murakami to ground into a force out in the next exchange, bringing third baseman Michael Vargas to the plate with two outs and runners on first and third.
Tie ballgame courtesy of Miguel Vargas! pic.twitter.com/D1NZOfXbn4— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 17, 2026
Vargas smacked Rea’s second offering — a 95.1-mph fastball over the middle of the plate — deep to right field. Crow-Armstrong bolted to his left in pursuit of the fly ball. He jumped off the warning track, but mistimed the attempt. The ball caromed back onto the field, allowing Peters and Murakami to score and tying the game.
A woman behind the outfield fence shouted insults at Crow-Armstrong, who fired back a string of vulgarities before returning to his position. The Cubs outfielder said he noticed cameras filming the exchange and knew the incident was gaining traction on social media.
“I think I just regret my choice of words the most and who that affects in my life directly and indirectly,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I don’t think that any of the women in my life would ever think that I would use those kinds of words regularly, especially referring to them.
“So, I’m just bummed out about the word choice, and that a bunch of little kids go and probably find their way to social media and see that, as well.
“But, I am intense on the field and in a moment like that, I think I just let it get away from me a little bit. Poor word choice. Lack of awareness too. … I don’t want to represent the other guys in the clubhouse that way because mostly everybody in here is the opposite of that.”
Crow-Armstrong was 0 for 3 in Sunday’s loss. He was 4 for 34 (.118) over his last 10 appearances for the Cubs. The 2025 All-Star hit .229 with five home runs, 20 RBIs and 12 stolen bases through his first 49 appearances this season.
The Cubs (29-20) lost eight of their last 10 games, including an active four-game losing streak. They sit in third place in the National League Central, a half-game behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers (28-18).
The Cubs will host the Brewers at 7:40 p.m. Wednesday at Wrigley Field.
