Chicago Cubs call up 3rd baseman Matt Shaw from Triple A before tonight's series opener in Miami
The Chicago Cubs called up third baseman Matt Shaw from Triple-A Iowa on Monday for the start of a three-game series in Miami, sources told the Chicago Tribune.
Manager Craig Counsell hinted at the move Sunday after the Cubs swept the White Sox in the opening round of the City Series at Wrigley Field, and it will be made official Monday.
After Shaw hit two home runs for Iowa on Thursday, Counsell was asked if the team's top-ranked prospect had proved he is ready.
'Look, we're trying to win games and we're trying to put a player in a good position to succeed,' Counsell said. 'So I don't think there is any certainty in any of that. There's a time hopefully we're going to be able to say, 'Yes, let's give this a shot again.''
Shaw hit two more home runs Friday night, and general manager Carter Hawkins told the Tribune on Saturday that Shaw would be up 'sooner than later.'
Now we'll see if some minor tweaks that led to success in Triple A can translate to the majors. Shaw hit .172 in 18 games with the Cubs after making the opening-day roster, with 18 strikeouts in 58 at-bats. He had a short spring training due to an oblique issue that delayed his start, but he was thrown into the starting lineup after the Cubs failed to sign free agent Alex Bregman.
After his demotion, Shaw hit .286 with six home runs and 14 RBIs in 24 games at Iowa with a .970 OPS, and his recent power surge showed he was ready for a second chance in the majors.
The Cubs sent Pete Crow-Armstrong down last year after the center fielder struggled offensively. Crow-Armstrong quickly returned and took a couple of months to figure things out before blossoming in the second half of 2024.
Crow-Armstrong is now a likely National League All-Star and an early Most Valuable Player candidate. The Cubs are hoping lightning strikes twice with Shaw, whom Baseball America ranked No. 35 on its Top 100 prospects list before the 2025 season.
Infielder Nicky Lopez is expected to be traded or designated for assignment when the roster move is made official. Lopez is one of four players who have rotated at third base since Shaw's demotion.
Gage Workman was DFA'd and dealt to the White Sox, who later released him. Vidal Brujan and Jon Berti will remain as bench players, with Shaw expected to get the bulk of the starts at third.
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