Shaw endured a rookie season of peaks and valleys, showcasing elite defense and flashes of offensive potential. Can he build on this foundation for a breakout year?
There’s no doubt Matt Shaw had a very up-and-down rookie campaign. He was on the Cubs’ Opening Day roster, but early-season struggles led to his demotion to Triple-A in the middle of April.
Shaw hit just .172 (10-for-58) with one home run, one double, three RBI, and 18 strikeouts in his first 18 games. Following that rough stretch, Cubs fans were ready to write off the young third baseman.
However, Shaw returned from Triple-A in late May with a bang. He hit .345 with four home runs, seven doubles, and seven RBI in his first 16 contests after being back. Those strong numbers were definitely a nice sign to see from the rookie.
While Shaw went on to have plenty of hot and cold stretches at the plate throughout the year, he showed enough offensively for the Cubs to remain confident in him moving forward. He finished the season with a .226 batting average, 13 home runs, 21 doubles, 44 RBI, and 17 stolen bases across 126 games.
Those aren’t the worst numbers for a rookie in his first season. It’s a big learning curve from Triple-A to the Major Leagues, and players often struggle that first year before breaking out in Year 2 or Year 3.
Just look at Geraldo Perdomo from a few years ago. As a rookie in 2022, he hit just .195 with five home runs and 40 RBI. One year later, Perdomo was a National League All-Star.
Now, Shaw might not follow that same path or trajectory as Perdomo, but this is a player who has the potential to be a 20-20 player next season. That combination of power and speed was on display throughout his Minor League career. In 2024, the Maryland alum hit 21 home runs with 31 stolen bases across 121 combined games at Double-A and Triple-A.
Although Shaw’s bat is a work in progress, his glove is already at the top of his game. He made plenty of big plays at third base this season, and his 12 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) at Fielding Bible ranked third among all third basemen. Only Ke’Bryan Hayes (19) and Maikel Garcia (13) had a higher DRS at the position.
That incredible defensive season resulted in Shaw being named a National League Gold Glove finalist. That’s a huge recognition for a player who is in his first year in the Majors. The other two finalists at his position are Hayes and Ryan McMahon.
All in all, it was a roller coaster first season for Shaw. He established himself as one of the best defensive corner infielders in the sport and showed some encouraging stretches at the plate throughout the year.
With one full season now under his belt, Shaw could definitely have a breakthrough offensive campaign in 2026. If that happens to be the case, this Cubs lineup will be even more dangerous.
Grade: C+