MLB executives see Cubs' Matt Shaw as a top contender for 2025 NL Rookie of the Year

All signs, at least for the time being, point to the Chicago Cubs breaking camp with top prospect Matt Shaw as the Opening Day third baseman. Of course, the brass said all the right things, that he'll have to earn the job, it's not going to be handed to him, etc. - but looking at the roster right now, there's no viable alternative.

You can make the case that the Cubs will go only as far as Shaw carries them, at least in the sense that, pardon the 2016-era reference, if he goes, so goes the team. Knowing as much, seeing him as one of the top picks from MLB front office executives for 2025 NL Rookie of the Year is an encouraging sign.

"When the Cubs traded Isaac Paredes to the Astros, it made it seem much more likely that Shaw will get the chance to start at the hot corner in Chicago. The 2023 first-round pick made it to Triple-A in 2024, finishing with 21 homers and 31 steals, before starring for Team USA in the Premier12 Tournament."

Shaw garnered 18.8 percent of the vote - falling well shy of the poll's favorite, Washington Nationals top-ranked and MLB Pipeline's #1 overall prospect Dylan Crews. The former LSU standout is set up perfectly to break camp as the Nats' starting right fielder - and his minor league numbers are no joke. He'll look to build on the month or so he got with the big-league club last season and put it all together as the youth movement continues in D.C.

As for Shaw, many wondered if he would get a look last summer, too. Instead, the Cubs let him close out the year at Triple-A Iowa, where he continued to do what he does best: showcase elite offensive skills at the highest levels of the minors, evidenced by a .929 OPS that was actually an improvement over his performance at Double-A earlier in the year.

Should he make the Opening Day roster, the Cubs have to expect some growing pains, not only at the plate, but also in the field. He's been getting reps at the hot corner this winter, but until last year, saw very limited action at third base. But with Isaac Paredes out of the picture, it's a wide-open position, ripe for the taking.

After Crews and Shaw, the list rounded out with the likes of Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler (10.4 percent) and Diamondbacks infielder Jordan Lawlar (6.3 percent). The rest of the field garnered a combined 14.5 percent. Here's to hoping Shaw can put it all together, leap-frog Crews and bring home some hardware - because that wouldn't only be good for the Cubs in 2025, but because of the new CBA, would net the club a pick after the first round of the 2026 MLB Draft.