MESA, Ariz. — Chicago Cubs top prospect Matt Shaw had two goals entering his first spring game Sunday.
Get at-bats and feel healthy.
The third baseman checked off both when he tallied three hitless at-bats but, most importantly, felt great after playing four innings in the field. Shaw had been sidelined by a left oblique injury since the beginning of camp and had been slowly building up to game action, which culminated with his Cactus League debut Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds.
“It feels amazing to get back out there and just to play baseball,” Shaw said afterward. “I mean, that’s what we all look forward to so it was a lot of fun to be back out there.”
Shaw handled the only ball hit his way, catching a popup in foul territory to record the first out of the game. The Cubs aren’t ready to make a decision yet on whether Shaw will travel to Japan and be part of the opening day roster. With roughly a week to go until the Cubs head overseas following their March 11 game, there is a small window for their in-game evaluations of Shaw.
