Mat Shaw, the top potential player of the Chicago cub, is entering spring training in a situation that any player with any established role wants: a valid opportunity to make it to the list of the initial day.
Shaw will report to the Big-League camp on February 12, with a great chance to win the initial job on the third base. The 23 -year -old infielder has performed well at all levels in the miners as the cub had selected it in the first round of 2023 drafts and last year he reached Triple A for the first time, in 35.298/.395/.534. with. Sports with eight doubles, seven home runs and 21 RBI for Iowa.
After sending Isaac Predes to Houston Astro as part of Kyle Tucker Trade in December, Shaw knows what is waiting for him when the camp starts in Messa, Aries.
Shaw said in the cub convention, “This is definitely something that I knew when they traded the paradeus and (third base probability) Cam Smith, so it is exciting.” “You hope this is because they believe in me. We will see how everything happens. And obviously I am going to do everything that I can do to achieve that position.
“At the end of the day, the big league is a big league, so no matter how much opportunities are revealed, it will remain, so you have to earn that place, so hopefully the opportunity has been given, I will be able to show that I have to show me What is.”
The cubs hope that Shaw will experience ups and downs while playing in Major for the first time, especially if he becomes regular in lineups. Both Pete Crow-Armestrong and Miguel Amaya showed last year that the initial aggressive conflict is not necessarily defined a season as both have changed things in the last two months.
Keeping this in mind, cubs want a safety trap to detect other these-season options on a third basis. After the Patrick Wisdom, Nick Madrigal and Miles Mastroborni, the organization needs to focus on their internal third-grade depth.
Vidal Bruzon (trade with Miami Marlins), Gauge Workman (Rule 5 Draft Pick from Detroit Tigers) and John Burty (free agent signed on a one -year deal report on Wednesday) give them a versatile infidel Some can take pressure on Shaw.
Manager Craig Counsel said, “Matt left an impact in the previous spring and then he went out and his season was really good.” “So we have some opportunities there, there is no question about it.”
As much as the cub needs to show that he can handle the major-league pitching, it is also important for the team to keep himself defensive in third place which has emphasized defense. He has served in the post from the previous offcase, preparations that were made in 2024 when he started 63 in third place between Double A and Triple A.
Jade Hayer, president of the baseball operation, said, “He has really continued to work hard, I think one thing about him is that he is an incredible worker, in this context I am somewhat Niko (Hornar) Miss you. ” “Whatever challenge we challenged him, he has accepted it and he has continued to improving defensively. And I think that defense is something in which you can get better with hard work and repetition and they have done a good job in it. ”
Shaw has seen a lot of videos of some of the best to play third in the Majors. He studied Nlanna Arenado and Alex Breman, especially to see how different gold glove winners with different types of body and approaches handle the position.
Shaw said, “You can see that there is no cookie-coatter way to field the third base.” “So for me, feeling a little more like Bremann, similar body types, similar range, side-side, it has actually been beneficial for me on the third basis. As you move forward, I am doing this to find out those things and start making a good game plan for the third basis.
The third base was a notable weak place for the cubs last year, but the reverse of Shaw makes it an area where they can perform better than a year ago, which will help in making place in the playoffs. The third Basman of the cubs jointly equaled the 25th position with Marlins in 2024 with Marlins for the Minus-1.9 war.
Shaw said, “I feel really blessed about it.” “I am really excited and really happy how all this happened. And I think I deal with pressure in such a way that I love sports and I like to do it. Apparently you feel it, and whatever game I play is nervous, whether it is a little league or a big league. I am really excited, and whenever you have that opportunity, you really wait for it.”