Remember in the winter when the Chicago Cubs made their slogan for the season, “You Have To C It?” Then, they had to change it for very obvious reasons. That was a fun time. But now, they may need to consider another change. Prospect Matt Shaw is tearing up the minor leagues. He may be young, but he may be figuring it out. He is playing can’t-miss baseball right now. You just have to Shaw it.
Shaw was drafted by the Cubs thirteenth overall in the 2023 MLB draft. In under a year of service for the Cubs in the minor leagues, he has the tools to be everything the Cubs were hoping for when they selected him. Shaw is currently rostered with AA Tennessee, playing all over the infield and gaining experience. Offensively, however, his production has been off the charts. He may not be down with the Smokies much longer.
His 2024 started disappointingly. Shaw began with a .237 batting average in April and down to .228 in May. But just as the weather has heated, so has Shaw’s bat. Thanks to an incredible June, Shaw has raised his average to .245 on the year, and it continues to climb. Specifically, his last week has been ridiculous. The Cubs are not the only ones noticing, either.
After batting a ridiculous .428 with four home runs and nine runs batted in on the week, Cubs prospect Matt Shaw has been named the Southern League Player of the Week. On Sunday, he hit two home runs against the Mississippi Braves, bringing in five runners with him. Shaw reached base fourteen times in the week.
While Shaw has been tearing it up in AA Tennessee, the Chicago Cubs have struggled to bring in runs and win games. After winning a series against the San Francisco Giants, they could not keep the momentum against the New York Mets. They now sit 37-41 on the year. They are eight games back in the division and two games back of a playoff spot.
Shaw has experience playing second, short, and third base on the season. He has also been the designated hitter for the Smokies. He is a name that President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer mentioned before the season began that could end up helping the MLB Cubs at some point in 2024. While the Cubs continue to struggle to make things happen in Chicago, Shaw is heating up in Tennessee.
It would be unfair to bring Matt Shaw up to the major leagues, hoping for him to be the change and fix for the 2024 Cubs. What he could offer is a complementary role on a team that has turned around and is well in a playoff conversation. On the contrary, Shaw could be asked to come to Chicago and prove he is worth a look to start the 2025 campaign on the roster. Either way, there is no way Shaw is not on the Cubs’ radar.
