MESA, Ariz. — Matt Shaw will travel to Japan with the Chicago Cubs, manager Craig Counsell announced Tuesday, giving the organization’s top prospect the chance to make his major-league debut in next week’s Tokyo Series.
This was the likely outcome when the Cubs began spring training on Super Bowl Sunday in Arizona. Club officials signaled that Shaw, a first-round pick in the 2023 draft, had the inside track to become the Opening Day third baseman.
Around the same time, however, Shaw experienced an oblique issue that clouded his timeline to prepare for the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 18. The Cubs were also pursuing All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman, a free agent who ultimately chose the Boston Red Sox. Those developments created some uncertainty.
Shaw entered Tuesday with only 16 Cactus League plate appearances this spring, and he has just 35 games of Triple-A experience. The Cubs, though, have raved about his maturity, offensive approach and strong track record of performance in the minors (.906 OPS). There is also a belief that his athleticism and work ethic will allow him to become a solid defender at third base.
“There was no hesitation at all,” Counsell said. “It was very much just giving ourselves time to gather information and make the decision when appropriate.”
Shaw claimed one of the final spots over Kevin Alcántara, another highly regarded prospect who would have served as a backup to center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong at the Tokyo Dome. Alcántara will not be part of the 31-player travel roster when the Cubs depart for Japan promptly after Tuesday’s Cactus League exhibition in Mesa.
To add Shaw for Opening Day, the Cubs will eventually have to drop a player from their 40-man roster. And that is their plan — to make Shaw available to play against the defending World Series champs.
“We wanted to make sure he was healthy,” Counsell said. “We said going into this that he’s got the upper hand. So just be who you are. I think that’s what we’re seeing. That means he’s got a chance to be a very, very good player, an impact player. This is the start of it. And we’ll go from there.”
(Photo: Allan Henry / Imagn Images)
