The Cubs entered last season committed to Matt Shaw. 

After a failed attempt to sign Alex Bregman in free agency, the Cubs were content with having Shaw as their everyday third baseman. The former Maryland product was the team’s top prospect, and he deserved a starting spot following an incredible 2024 Minor League season. 

However, Shaw’s inconsistencies at the plate were certainly on display during his rookie campaign. He had just 10 hits in his first 58 Major League at-bats (.172 batting average) before being sent down to Triple-A Iowa to work on his swing in mid-April. 

That brief stint in Iowa helped Shaw immediately, as the young third baseman hit .311 with one home run, seven doubles, and five RBI in his first 20 games back in the Majors from May 19 to June 10. 

Unfortunately, more inconsistencies loomed for Shaw after that 20-game sample in the middle of the season. He hit just .215 over the final 88 games and only slashed .222/.313/.375 with two home runs, nine RBI, and 23 strikeouts in the month of September. 

Now, it wasn’t all bad for Shaw in his first taste of the big leagues. He did hit 13 home runs, stole 17 bases, and played Gold Glove defense at third base. That was enough for him to finish his rookie season with a solid 3.1 WAR. 

But the Cubs are going to need Shaw to take that next step at the plate in 2026. 

His bat became a huge liability for the Cubs down the stretch, and he was practically an automatic out in the postseason. Shaw went 2-for-17 with seven strikeouts in eight postseason appearances this past year. 

If he can find more offensive consistency next season, that would be a massive boost to a Cubs lineup that is already dangerous in a lot of areas. 

The key for Shaw to potentially take that next step is hitting the fastball. The 24-year-old batted just .213 with 36 strikeouts against fastball pitch types in 2025. With a full year under his belt, the hope is that the third baseman can grow to become a consistent bat in Chicago’s lineup. 

While it’s not a total surprise to see Shaw have such an up-and-down season in 2025, it’s now go time for the former Cubs’ top prospect. He must take the necessary strides to improve offensively. If he doesn’t, the North Siders could try to replace him after next season. 

Shaw hit just .226 with 13 home runs, 44 RBI, and 17 stolen bases across 126 games for the Cubs.