With clock ticking on Cubs, Shaw makes spring debut at third base
The Cubs' 11-game unbeaten streak in spring training came to an end with Sunday's 7-3 loss to Cincinnati.
The bigger news, though, was the spring debut of rookie Matt Shaw, the front-runner to start at third base this season.
There were no highlights. Shaw went 0-for-3 at the plate on a grounder to third, grounder to first and foul out. But at least he was out there after taking some time off with oblique soreness.
“I guess at the end of the day, you're trying to get at-bats under you and feel healthy,” Shaw told reporters after the game. “And today I felt really healthy, so it's good.”
The Cubs have eight games left to play in Arizona before heading to Japan to prepare for the Mar. 18 season opener against the Dodgers. That's not a ton of time to decide if Shaw is ready to take over, or if he could maybe use some time in the minors first.
“Personally, I feel like I've put a lot of time and effort to be ready for this situation,” he said. “But it's out of my hands. So I'm going to keep trying to do what I do every day and be consistent. If I get the opportunity to go (to Japan), I'll be overjoyed. If not, that's just part of the process, so just keep rolling.”
Manager Craig Counsell cautioned himself, and everyone else, not to jump to any quick conclusions about Shaw, no matter what happens in the next week or two.
“Matt Shaw's going to be a good major league player for the Chicago Cubs,” Counsell said. “That's the evaluation I'm making. But what's going to happen in the next eight games for any player, who knows? It can be a lot, good and bad, that can fool you. Really I want Matt to be healthy, I want Matt to be prepared for a six-month season.”
Shaw was the Cubs' first-round draft pick in 2023 out of Maryland. He hit .298 in 35 games at Triple A Iowa last year and has yet to make his major-league debut.
The Cubs already decided Nico Hoerner will not make the trip to Japan as he recovers from wrist surgery last October. So that could test the Cubs' depth, but they seem prepared with veteran newcomers Jon Berti and Vidal Brujan, plus Rule 5 pickup Gage Workman and Naperville native Nicky Lopez on a minor-league deal.
“It definitely feels different (in camp), “Shaw said. “I have more relationships, I know the guys better. A little less starstruck and a little more focused on winning a job. It's super exciting.”
Sunday's starting pitcher Matt Boyd gave up 3 runs in 2 1/3 innings, then Keegan Thompson allowed a pair of solo home runs. In other pitching news, Counsell said starter Javier Assad (left oblique strain) is not expected to be ready for the start of the season.
Offense has been the story of the spring, with the Cubs (8-1-3) hitting an MLB-best .301. Michael Busch, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Miguel Amaya, Ian Happ, Carson Kelly and Lopez are among the players hitting at least .400. Meanwhile, newcomer Kyle Tucker is 0-for-9 at the plate.
“Maybe it's just we kind of pushed guys a little sooner just because our schedule is a little faster,” Counsell said. “Better that way than the other way.”