The Chicago Cubs have a new infield prospect with some serious power and great plate discipline in Maryland's Matt Shaw.
The Cubs drafted Shaw with the No. 13 overall pick in the MLB Draft on Sunday night. Not only did Chicago get a potentially great player, they have a guy who really wanted to be with the franchise.
"Chicago is where I wanted to go," Shaw said.
“Going into today, Chicago was where I wanted to go.”
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) July 10, 2023
Cubs first-round pick Matt Shaw joins the 2023 Draft Special tonight ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/juejLuQAdi
Shaw was prolific this season, slashing 341/.445/.697 with 24 home runs and 69 RBIs. The 21-year-old shortstop aims to rise up the minor league ranks quickly and get to the majors in short order. And the Cubs may fit the bill in this regard.
“I wanted to be at a team that I thought would move me up and give me the opportunity to kind of fail early and learn, to kind of get my footing through playing against really good competition," Shaw explained. "Moving up to Double-A, moving up to the Majors. For me, the Cubs, I think, will do a good job with that. And that's really exciting to me.”
Shaw said being with the Cubs is unbelievable and they're a team he really wanted to go play for. Despite growing up a Red Sox fan, Shaw feels playing at historic Wrigley Field is where he ultimately belongs.
"The history of the field, the players that are there, seemed like a perfect fit for me," Shaw said. "When my name got called for Chicago, it was like 'this is great, this is perfect'. It just felt right."
Matt Shaw, the Cubs' first round pick, was that guy who hit the 507 foot grand slam against Iowa earlier this year. lol. pic.twitter.com/hmQSkIn1ba
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) July 10, 2023
The Cubs starting shortstop is currently All-Star Dansby Swanson, who's in the first year of a seven-year, $177M dollar contract. Swanson texted Shaw and joked with him about a position switch.
“He says, ‘Matt, you've got to go play second base, you're not gonna play short,’” Shaw said.
If Shaw can continue to hit for average and power, he'll be in the majors swiftly and part of an infield tandem with Swanson.
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