The Cubs introduced their roster for Tuesday evening’s season opener in opposition to the Dodgers on the Tokyo Dome (relayed by Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports activities Community). As anticipated, Chicago formally promoted high third base prospect Matt Shaw. They designated reliever Keegan Thompson for project to clear the required 40-man roster spot. That transfer was foreshadowed after they left the out-of-options righty off their journey roster final week. Chicago additionally positioned righty Javier Assad on the 15-day injured record with a left indirect pressure.
Shaw’s promotion, whereas telegraphed as soon as the Cubs introduced he’d journey with the group to Tokyo, is essentially the most important of those transactions. The 23-year-old infielder figures to begin at third base in opposition to Dodgers righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto in what’ll be his main league debut. It was a fast rise by way of the minors for the Maryland product. The Cubs drafted him thirteenth total in 2023. Shaw hit .357 in 38 video games within the low minors throughout his draft yr. He continued to rake upon making the transfer to Double-A to begin the ’24 marketing campaign.
The righty-hitting infielder performed in 86 video games on the Double-A degree. He hit .279/.373/.468 to earn a promotion to Triple-A Iowa in August. He carried out even higher on the high minor league degree, closing the yr with a .298/.395/.534 slash with seven homers throughout 35 contests. The Cubs cleared a path for him to take over the new nook after they dealt Isaac Paredes to Houston as a part of the Kyle Tucker blockbuster.
Chicago made a late-offseason push for Alex Bregman as a short-term deal grew to become a professional risk. As soon as Bregman agreed to phrases with the Purple Sox on a three-year contract, the new nook grew to become Shaw’s job to lose. Whereas six exhibition video games weren’t more likely to transfer the needle in some way, he didn’t damage his case by gathering 5 hits and three walks with just one strikeout in 19 Spring Coaching plate appearances.
Shaw is the consensus alternative as the highest prospect in a robust Cubs system. He ranks among the many high 50 prospects within the sport at every of Baseball America, FanGraphs (Eric Longenhagen), MLB Pipeline, ESPN (Kiley McDaniel), and The Athletic (Keith Regulation). The assorted scouting stories venture Shaw as a possible 25-homer bat with the power to hit for a excessive common, although McDaniel and Longenhagen every specific minor concern together with his propensity for chasing sliders on the outer half. Shaw is considered a plus runner who needs to be able to sticking on the infield.
A center infielder by commerce, Shaw will play principally third base with Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner having the center infield secured. Hoerner didn’t journey to Tokyo as he finishes his rehab from October flexor tendon surgical procedure. The Cubs have maintained hope that Hoerner might be prepared for subsequent Thursday’s home Opening Day. Jon Berti appears the likeliest choice to begin these two video games in his place.
Shaw simply qualifies for the prospect criterion (on at the least two of the preseason Prime 100 lists at Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, and ESPN) of the CBA’s Prospect Promotion Incentive. Assuming he sticks on the Cubs’ roster for a full service yr, the group would obtain an additional draft alternative after the primary spherical if Shaw both wins Rookie of the 12 months or finishes high three in MVP balloting inside his first three seasons. Shaw might be underneath membership management by way of 2030 and can qualify for arbitration throughout the 2027-28 offseason if he holds his lively roster spot. If he struggles and the Cubs choice him again to the minors, that might clearly change his free agent trajectory.
Whereas Shaw is the higher-profile rookie, he’s not the one Cub infielder in line to make his MLB debut. Rule 5 decide Gage Workman additionally made the Opening Day roster. Chicago grabbed the left-handed hitter out of the Detroit system in December. A fourth-round select of Arizona State in 2020, Workman is coming off .280/.366/.476 slash with 18 homers and 30 stolen bases in Double-A. He has by no means performed on the high minor league degree.
Workman couldn’t have finished far more in camp to power the Cubs to hold onto him. He drilled three homers, stole as many bases, and hit .424 in 15 Spring Coaching video games. Workman has an intriguing mixture of energy and athleticism. He’s a succesful defender on the left facet of the infield. The query is whether or not he’ll make sufficient contact to stay on the MLB roster. Workman fanned at a 27.5% clip final season and has a profession 32.9% strikeout charge.
Groups should hold Rule 5 draftees on the MLB roster or injured record for all the season to retain their long-term contractual rights. They’d in any other case must be positioned on waivers and, if unclaimed, be provided again to their authentic group. The Cubs have Berti, Workman, Justin Turner and the out-of-options Vidal Bruján working off the bench. They in all probability gained’t be capable to roster all 4 gamers as soon as Hoerner is wholesome, however they’re every on the group for the two-game set in Tokyo.
Picture courtesy of Allan Henry, Imagn Photographs.
