Matt Shaw isn’t guaranteed to be the Opening Day third baseman for the Cubs in 2025.
But he clearly has a pathway to playing time — and could put himself in line for some hardware in the process.
A panel of executives had the Cubs’ top prospect as a front-runner for NL Rookie of the Year, behind Washington’s Dylan Crews. Crews, the Nationals’ 2023 1st-round pick, received 50% of the votes, with Shaw picking up 18.8%. Pittsburgh’s Bubba Chandler had 10.4% of the vote, Arizona’s Jordan Lawler 6.3% and a combination of other players garnering 14.5%.
If Shaw does win the Opening Day role at the hot corner, it would lead to everyday at-bats and playing time, which could allow him to pick up the stats that could net him the award for top rookie. Bruce Levine and Lance Brozdowski discussed the merits of Shaw’s candidacy on the latest edition of Cubs 360.
“Much of [Crews’] value came through baserunning and some defense,” Brozdowski said. “I think if Shaw posts more of a league-average offensive line, he can vault up there.”
Shaw’s bat has thrived at every level of the minor leagues. He’s posted an .840 OPS or better at every minor-league stop and has a weighted runs created plus above league average in every season, too.
In 121 games in Double-A and Triple-A in 2024, Shaw hit 21 home runs with 71 RBI, carried a slash line of .284/.379/.488 (.867 OPS) and a 146 wRC+, 46 percentage points above league average.
Hitters have struggled making the jump from the minors to the majors, so it’s fair to assume there’s potential for some struggle at the plate for Shaw. Regardless, Levine expects the Cubs to have Shaw playing every day — either in the big leagues or at Triple-A.
And if it’s at the major-league level, then that means Shaw could be in line for some hardware at the end of the year.
