Latest Matt Shaw update may have him ready for the Chicago Cubs Opening Day roster

Can I interest you in another honor for Matt Shaw? The Chicago Cubs' top prospect flew up MLB rankings this year during his first full season in the minors, earning Southern League MVP honors and being named the team's top positional prospect for the year. His explosive season will now get to continue throughout the offseason, as he's just been named to Team USA's 2024 Premier12 tournament roster.

The Premier12 tournament is a competition among the top 12 highest-ranked countries in the world organized by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). Each team consists of a 28-man roster, including 15 pitchers and 13 position players, all of whom can't be on an MLB team's 40-man roster. Most everyone who plays for Team USA is a prospect and Shaw is one of only four Top-100 players by MLB Pipeline to be named to the team, joining Carson Williams (#4), Justin Crawford (#53), and Termarr Johnson (#75).

Shaw technically isn't the only Cub to earn a spot. The team also features some older free agents, including former Chicago starter Rich Hill. They'll all be managed by former Angels skipper Mike Scioscia, competing among the six teams in Group A from November 9-14 in Guadalajara and Tepic, Mexico. The top two teams from each group will then get to play in Tokyo, Japan from November 21-24 in the Super Round to earn a gold medal.

The Premier12 is another opportunity for Shaw to learn beyond the Cubs

At this point in Shaw's young career, any extra experience is a boon for his development. Barring a surprise trade, he's almost certain to play a big role with the big league Cubs next year as one of their several Top-100 prospects nearing a call-up from Triple-A. The Premier12 is a great chance for him to face some international competition and make a name for himself on a larger stage, not unlike what catching prospect Moises Ballesteros is doing in the Arizona Fall League. Moreover, if he can replicate similar results to what he accomplished in the minors, it'll undoubtedly inspire more confidence from the front office when the time comes to promote him.

Shaw's 2024 campaign was split between Double-A and Triple-A and he played like a star at both levels. He slashed .279/.373/.468 with 14 homers in 86 games at Tennessee before continuing his success in Iowa with a .298/.395/.534 line and 7 home runs, racking up respective 148 and 142 wRC+ marks. That overall performance also came with a strikeout rate below 20%. He's likely to start at the highest level of the minors in 2025, but his stay shouldn't be long if his results to this point are any indication.

An Opening Day roster spot isn't out of the question though, especially if trades are made or if Nico Hoerner has to miss time following his recent, unexpected flexor tendon surgery. Again, killing it in the Premier 12 could make that outcome more likely. Shaw has the ceiling of a slugging infielder that could finally add some much-needed power to the Cubs' lineup and he's quickly adapted to every level of the minors thus far. Getting him playing time will be a priority as the team looks to get back on track after a wasted 2024 season.