Coming into the 2025 season, the Chicago Cubs wanted to add talent to the third base position. They had a couple of veterans and a young prospect or two, but nobody had won the job through camp and spring training.
They made a run at Alex Bregman in free agency, but he signed with the Boston Red Sox before the regular season started. This left the Cubs with very few options to go with at third.
Chicago ended up giving the keys to rookie Matt Shaw, the Cubs’ 2023 first-round pick, to let him develop as a hitter and defender.
Shaw spent the first part of the year with a slash line of .172/.294/.241 over his first 18 career games. He unfortunately got demoted to Triple-A Iowa on April 15. In the minors, Shaw then regrouped and worked on his batting approach and his defense at third base.
Throughout his time in Triple-A, Shaw was hitting a strong .286/.409/.560 with six home runs in 24 games. This slight breakout led to him being called up for the series against the Marlins starting on May 19.
Almost immediately, Shaw made his presence known. He went 5-11 with two multi-hit games in Miami and shot his batting average up over 30 points from .172 to .209.
In the next two series against the Reds and Rockies, Shaw once again played well. He was decisive at the plate with a smaller leg kick and is playing well above average defense at third base, even making a couple of highlight-reel plays on the hot corner.
His biggest moment since coming back to the majors happened on Tuesday against the Rockies. The game was tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 10th inning. With runners on first and second, Shaw had a chance to be the hero.
He blooped a single over the first baseman’s head and brought in the winning run for his first career walk-off hit.
Shaw’s new approach at the plate and consistent defense have turned the Chicago Cubs’ lineup into one without a major weakness.
He’s been hitting .355/.412/.516 since being called back up to the majors, and is showing any signs of slowing down soon.
About the Author
Zach Jonkman is an aspiring sports writer studying at Ball State University. An avid Chicago sports fan, Zach blends insightful analysis with passionate storytelling. Follow him on X @zachjonkman
More content similar to Matt Shaw:
The Most Frustrating Pitcher on the Cubs
ESPN Opts Out of MLB Package: Impact on Fans and MLB Broadcasts
Read more about Matt Shaw:
Yahoo Sports: “Cubs’ Matt Shaw delivers walk-off as team stays hot vs. Rockies”
MLB.com: Player Page, Matt Shaw
Become a content creator for SportsE Media – DM our founder on LinkedIn or X to learn more.
Want to Start a Podcast? Learn how to launch your own professional podcast: Get Started Now
Matt Shawesome: Matt Shaw’s Resurgence in Second Big-League Stint
Coming into the 2025 season, the Chicago Cubs wanted to add talent to the third base position. They had a couple of veterans and a young prospect or two, but nobody had won the job through camp and spring training.
They made a run at Alex Bregman in free agency, but he signed with the Boston Red Sox before the regular season started. This left the Cubs with very few options to go with at third.
Chicago ended up giving the keys to rookie Matt Shaw, the Cubs’ 2023 first-round pick, to let him develop as a hitter and defender.
Shaw spent the first part of the year with a slash line of .172/.294/.241 over his first 18 career games. He unfortunately got demoted to Triple-A Iowa on April 15. In the minors, Shaw then regrouped and worked on his batting approach and his defense at third base.
Throughout his time in Triple-A, Shaw was hitting a strong .286/.409/.560 with six home runs in 24 games. This slight breakout led to him being called up for the series against the Marlins starting on May 19.
Almost immediately, Shaw made his presence known. He went 5-11 with two multi-hit games in Miami and shot his batting average up over 30 points from .172 to .209.
In the next two series against the Reds and Rockies, Shaw once again played well. He was decisive at the plate with a smaller leg kick and is playing well above average defense at third base, even making a couple of highlight-reel plays on the hot corner.
His biggest moment since coming back to the majors happened on Tuesday against the Rockies. The game was tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 10th inning. With runners on first and second, Shaw had a chance to be the hero.
He blooped a single over the first baseman’s head and brought in the winning run for his first career walk-off hit.
Shaw’s new approach at the plate and consistent defense have turned the Chicago Cubs’ lineup into one without a major weakness.
He’s been hitting .355/.412/.516 since being called back up to the majors, and is showing any signs of slowing down soon.
About the Author
Zach Jonkman is an aspiring sports writer studying at Ball State University. An avid Chicago sports fan, Zach blends insightful analysis with passionate storytelling. Follow him on X @zachjonkman
More content similar to Matt Shaw:
The Most Frustrating Pitcher on the Cubs
ESPN Opts Out of MLB Package: Impact on Fans and MLB Broadcasts
Read more about Matt Shaw:
Yahoo Sports: “Cubs’ Matt Shaw delivers walk-off as team stays hot vs. Rockies”
MLB.com: Player Page, Matt Shaw
Become a content creator for SportsE Media – DM our founder on LinkedIn or X to learn more.
Want to Start a Podcast? Learn how to launch your own professional podcast: Get Started Now