Where does the Cubs' Matt Shaw fall in a ranking of NL Central third basemen?

2. Ke'Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh Pirates

I really want Ke'Bryan Hayes to be good. He is an all-world fielder: 99th percentile according to StatCast in 2023 due to his incredible range. We've seen him make those remarkable plays down the line against the Cubs, but Charlie Hayes' son is fantastic pretty much across the board in the field. He won a Gold Glove in 2023 and will probably be the NL favorite heading into 2025 healthy.

Hayes hasn't been immensely succesful at the plate yet though. He was above average in 2023 but regressed mightily in last season. He's good at making contact, which leads to low K and whiff rates but his on-base skills are not equivalent. Hayes will have to improve there or in his slugging to make an All-Star team. If he repeats his .573 OPS from 2023, Hayes is really going to be in trouble. Even all-world defensive players don't maintain starting positions struggling that much at the plate.

3. Matt Shaw

Cubs rookie Matt Shaw is going to get a ton of coverage over the next couple of months, but he's the real deal. In roughly a full season of games in the minors (159), the University of Maryland product has a .906 OPS and 46 stolen bases. While he's new to third base, Shaw has looked pretty decent according to reports (quality defensive metrics really aren't available to fans for minor leaguers). I think I'd prefer him at second, but Shaw belongs in the big leagues and third base is the position Jed Hoyer and team have opened for him.

Shaw generates a ton of power out of his 5'9 frame and doesn't really have any distinct holes in his game in the minors. He's about league average in strikeout rate, takes his walks and hits to all fields. I anticipate him being able to hit immediately. Third base might be a challenge for a bit at the big league level but Cubs fans have watched Christopher Morel the last three years. We will be fine. Shaw has a real shot at being the best third baseman in the division by May, even if he can just be a league average defender.