Matt Shaw

Shaw didn't face great competition while playing three years for Maryland, but he mashed with a wood bat (1.006 OPS) in the Cape Cod League in 2022 and excelled in his pro debut after the Cubs selected him with the 13th overall pick. He hit .500 with one home run in three Arizona Complex League games before a quick promotion to High-A. The 5-foot-11 infielder slashed .393/.427/.655 with four home runs, seven steals and 12 strikeouts in 20 games in the Midwest League before getting promoted again to Double-A. Shaw fared well again, hitting .292 with three home runs, six steals and a 17.1 K% in 15 games in the Southern League to close the year. He makes consistent contact and hits the ball to all fields. Shaw has a chance to hit 20-plus home runs while stealing 20-plus bases and hitting for a high average during his prime years. His defensive home is unclear, as he fits best at second base, but that's Nico Hoerner's spot. Neither Shaw or Hoerner have an ideal arm for the left side of the infield, which complicates matters. Nonetheless, Shaw's bat will likely look big-league ready by the middle of the summer. Read Past Outlooks