Chicago Cubs News: 2023 1st Round Pick Matt Shaw promoted to Double-A
The Chicago Cubs appear to have made the right decision in drafting infielder Matt Shaw as he has ripped the seams off of the baseball in his quest for promotion.
Matt Shaw is a very good baseball player. That was evident at Maryland prior to the draft when we listed him as a potential fit for the Cubs. That was evident after he was drafted by the Cubs and we explained why he was the right pick rather than a pitcher. And it’s never been more evident than right now as he has been called up to the AA Tennessee Smokies.
In three games of Rookie Ball, he hit .500/.636/.1000. In 20 games at High-A South Bend, he hit .393/.427/.655. To put that into perspective, when he was in college playing with metal bats against Big 10 competition he hit .341/.445/.697.
The fact that he has arguably more impressive numbers against professional pitching shouldn’t come as a shock. Shaw was the right pick at the time and he’s proven it with every opportunity he’s had.
If the Cubs begin next season with Pete Crow-Armstrong on the major league roster it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibilities for Shaw to be the team’s top prospect. And it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibilities for him to be taking at-bats in the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field before the end of the 2024 season.
Get on the hype train before it gets too far out of the station because it’s picking up speed.