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Chicago Cubs top prospect Matt Shaw, who has taken a lot of the spotlight since getting drafted one year ago, has finally broken back out in the minors and could be set to receive a promotion to Triple-A Iowa before long. In his last nine games, Shaw has been batting 12-36, suitable for a .333 average, with three homers and three doubles in that time.
Given his elite bat-to-ball skills, it was a slow start to the campaign for Shaw. The team's glaring need at third base at the major league level is undeniable, and Shaw needs to prove he can handle major league pitching, where the team knows his defense will suffice.
Although snakebitten in the month of May, the Cubs' current third baseman, Christopher Morel, has recorded a much-to-be-desired league-worst -9 Outs Above Average and -7 Runs Prevented. For a team with a big emphasis on defense the past couple of offseasons, these marks simply will not stand, and it's hard to believe they will drastically improve any time soon.
Chicago Cubs: Matt Shaw to Triple-A Iowa is a matter of time
Many of the Cubs' top prospects are already in Triple-A, making an inevitable Shaw promotion much more exciting. In 2023, Shaw slashed an incredible .357/.400/.618 in 157 ABs to begin his professional career. His numbers in the last week and a half reflect that and prove his raw talent in his bat. With no question of his ability to hit, sticking at third base will be critical for his development and track to MLB.
Shaw has started 32 games at 3B this year for the Tennessee Smokies, recording 40 assists, 29 putouts, and just three errors, which is good for a .958 fielding percentage. Indeed, there's room to improve further, as he has yet to spend much time in his career playing third, and the Cubs front office will look for him to do just that. Comparatively, Morel's eight errors at 3B this year and .925 FPCT are disastrous. Look for the Cubs to promote Shaw before long if he keeps swinging it the way he has been.