MMO Exclusive: Harvard-Westlake’s Jared Halpert Talks Coaching Pete Crow-Armstrong

The New York Mets spent the 19th overall pick in the MLB Draft on Harvard West-Lake outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong on Thursday night.

His high school coach at Harvard West-Lake Jared Halpert was with Crow-Armstrong and his family on draft night and afterwards spoke with Metsmerized in a phone interview to discuss this special moment.

“We were fortunate enough to all be together at a location with a handful of family members and teammates that were able to be there. It was a little more nerve racking for me than I thought it would be because we wanted our guy to get drafted and we felt he was a worthy candidate while hoping another organization felt the same,” Halpert told Metsmerized.

“When we heard commissioner, Rob Manfred call his name on TV it was so special. Not sure if there were any other teary eyes in the room but I was fighting mine back.”

“I said to him, that if I don’t get tickets, we got problems (jokingly). All kidding aside, I am so proud of him and excited to see what he does at the professional level.”

Halpert went onto talk about what kind of person and professional the Mets are getting in his former player, who was ranked in the top 20 on several major MLB mock drafts.

“He is a very vocal leader, but also has got a good pulse on the environment and situation and has a good feel for when his voice is needed or not. He can be a very vocal leader which my staff and I got to experience in a front row manor and got to cultivate it because that’s what you want,” said Halpert

“You want the best player to lead the group which he took head on. Pete was very vocal and demanding of everyone to be better putting that challenge on his own shoulders and his teammates. He has that ability and is going to be stepping into an environment where he is supposed to be a rookie and he is going to go to work and when the time comes when he needs to lead a club he will deliver.”

“He’s a natural center fielder. The way he moves, his first step, his reads, the way he can cheat on balls, his knack for being able to communicate all put him in the middle of the field.”

“He is a very aggressive player, who loves to use his tools and run. I think he can become a base stealer if the Mets feel that’s something they want him to develop at,” said Halpert.

“Usually a kid that’s famous from when they’re 12-years-old can be a little narcissistic and have a chip on their shoulder but that wasn’t Pete. He is extremely coachable and interested in learning every step of the way. And trying to be the best version of himself as a player and person,” said Halpert.

“He is still a kid and isn’t perfect and made his mistakes along the way but the ability to truly learn from experiences on and off the field is what makes the kid a blue-chip human being. I couldn’t be happier for him and his family.”

Crow-Armstrong is going from growing up in Los Angeles, to playing in New York once he reaches the majors, which his coach believes he will have no problem adjusting to.

“Both cities are similar and different in certain ways, but I don’t think the speed of New York will have any negative effect on him or make much of a difference getting accustomed to the city and game. I think playing as a pro is where the growing curve will take place over the next few years,” said Halpert.

Luckily, Crow-Armstrong played for USA Baseball’s 12U, 15U, and 18U teams’ growing up, where the nation’s top youngsters were the front and center of attention.

“By no means do I think he is perfect, but I think he’s comfortable since he’s been in front of cameras and had to answer questions since he was 12. One of the benefits of having so much experience with USA Baseball is that he has had PG and Under Armor events and some of the best showcase events in the country and having that long standing run of limelight and cameras and questions has definitely given him the comfort of being himself and being able to answer questions to the best of his ability,” said Halpert.

“He is a well-spoken kid and he loves what he does. I think he enjoys the media aspect of the game and he loves baseball. He wants to have fun and that’s how he looks at the media as well it’s a bunch of professionals getting together too, and he loves to talk.”

Despite being 18-years-old, Halpert says Crow-Armstrong is “beyond his years,” and is as mature as a young man can be due to his past experiences growing up in the spotlight, which will help him grow as a professional.

As far as Crow-Armstrong’s skillset goes, Halpert says this comes from the player sharpening his skills behind the scenes which his coach has seen up close and personal for several years.

“He has had opportunities in game and on camera that has impressed and given a foundation for people to define the player that he is. Practice is where you see the real player and where that kid really shines. He’s been making heroic brave and serious catches since he was 15. You don’t just roll out of bed and do it suddenly, you work on your craft and skills behind the scenes,” said Halpert.

Crow-Armstrong’s hard work in practice translated to the field in live game action as he won the Los Angeles Times Player of the year award in 2019 as a junior after hitting .395 with three-home runs, 23 RBIs, 40 runs scored, and 47 hits in 34 games.

In 2020, he got off to a hot start batting .514 before his season and high school career were both cut short due to Covid-19.

“Like anything, it’s difficult to try and define someone and their future when there’s so many intangibles. His raw ability, hand eye, bat speed, and feel for his body has allowed him to self-coach and apply things and use his intelligence as a player and hitter which makes him wise far beyond his age,” said Halpert.

Crow-Armstrong has been labeled as a slash hitter with speed and great fielding skills, but minimal power, which Halpert believes will come along as he develops and gets stronger in the pros.

“I don’t know what type of offensive player he is going to develop into when it’s all said and done but I do know that he is going to be a phenomenal one. We’ve heard him being compared to Darin Erstad and some other great names and if he reaches that level it’d be fantastic, but Pete is Pete. He’s not anyone else. He’s 18 and his power is going to come. He lives in the weight room and loves his craft and I truly think the sky is the limit for him.”

“If he wants to add 30 pounds of muscle in the next few years and maybe move over to right field as a power hitter I don’t doubt he can do that or if his place is as a speedster and to stay wiry at the top of the lineup playing center field I know he will have a chance to be that type of player too as a lead off guy. He’s got it all and is truly a 5-tool player and I can’t wait to see what this kid becomes down the road.”

“Whatever he wants to do, he really does have it all and to be compared to a player like Brett Gardner is awesome too because if he comes close to those numbers as an athlete, he better send me some tickets over to me,” Halpert said jokingly.

While it is hard to predict how many years it will take a player drafted out of high school to reach the majors, Halpert thinks Crow-Armstrong could get there sooner rather than later based off talent and character alone. However, he added that there will be various other factors involved based off his contract, individual development, plus the timing for the big-league club.

According to Halpert, the local media in Los Angeles has given Crow-Armstrong the nickname PCA, which is the abbreviated version of his initials Pete Crow-Armstrong. But, Halpert went onto reveal that the Harvard West-Lake community and his teammates call him “Petro.” This nickname originated due to the fiery type of player he is and he also “plays with his hair on fire,” given his red hair.

During his time at Harvard West-Lake, Crow-Armstrong has built relationships with some notable active MLB players in Lucas Giolitto, Jack Flaherty, Brendan Bosch, and Max Fried who are alumni of the school and baseball program. Former Met Josh Satin also played at HW and is among those who return to mentor the players.

“It’s everyone’s pre-spring training time to get ready. Those guys like to come back, and we are so fortunate to have them as athletes and people. They love to come out and talk to the guys and help. They love when we win and are still invested in our community here. It humanizes these professional athletes, which helps them connect with the team,” said Halpert.