The Chicago Cubs enter spring training expecting to be one of the better teams in the National League.
PECOTA Projections predicts the Cubs will win 90 games and will win the National League Central. Given all the moves the Cubs made this offseason, that seems like a possibility.
The Cubs have high expectations for their top prospect, Matt Shaw. Shaw could be the Cubs’ Opening Day third baseman if he can perform in camp.
Shaw who was drafted as a shortstop, has been working extremely hard this offseason to become a decent third baseman. During the winter, Shaw has studied films of, Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado to get a few pointers to better his game.
Another influential voice helping Shaw is one of the Cubs Hall of Fame middle infielders, who had a similar path to the big leagues.
Shaw has similarities to Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer
One person who has drawn a liking to the 23-year-old Shaw is Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg. The Cub’s best second baseman in franchise history and Shaw, have similar paths to the major leagues. Both were drafted as shortstops but had to be moved to third base once they were called up.
Sandberg primarily worked as a shortstop in the Philadelphia Phillies organization but was blocked at the position, due to the Phillies having Larry Bowa as their shortstop. Shaw is in a similar spot, with the Cubs having Dansby Swanson as their shortstop.
Sandberg has been a staple in camp, with The Athletic Patrick Mooney writing that Ryno has provided an “upbeat attitude”. Mooney also wrote that Shaw embraced that he and Sanberg have a similar path to the big leagues by saying “It was really cool”.
“It was really cool to have him talk about those experiences and tell me that he has a lot of belief in me, and he’s supporting me behind the scenes.”
Shaw is ready for the challenge
Shaw is ready to go and take on the duties of being the Cub’s third baseman. Speaking on the pressures of having those high expectations, Shaw told Mooney that he “looks forward” to the pressure.
“There’s pressure no matter where you are,” Shaw said. “I look forward to it. Everyone’s going to fail sometimes. You look up around the entire big leagues — whether it’s the best of the best or new guys like myself — you find that everybody struggles from time to time. It’s just being able to minimize that, move past it and just accept it for what it is. That’s part of the game.”
The Cub’s top prospect has proven at every level the ability to hit and hit for power. Shaw has the potential to be a 20/20 guy once he gets his footing underneath him.
We shall soon see what Shaw is made of
The first games will start soon and fans will see what Shaw will bring to the team.
As of now, Shaw is sidelined with an oblique issue which has caused him to have a slower ramp-up than others but will resume some light-hitting on Monday and then go from there.
Chicago Cubs lefty has to take a big leap forward in his development this spring training
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