The Chicago Cubs anticipate a jolt in 2025, and their top prospect infielder, Matt Shaw, can make it happen. Shaw, a mere 23 years old, was given a nod in Opening Day's lineup but struggled in April, sending him to Triple-A Iowa. Rumors in Wrigley Stadium now suggest his return to a potential set, which creates buzz among fans as much as in fantasy baseball. 

With a rare blend of power, speed, as well as patience, Shaw's rise to the big leagues is as much a tale of grit as it is potential. Here's an explanation of prospect stock, statistical trend, the Cubs' infield situation, as well as his potential in fantasy, supplemented by a healthy dosage of human element driving his rise.

 

Matt Shaw Prospect Status

When they took Matt Shaw in the first round, 13th overall, from the University of Maryland in the 2023 MLB Draft, the Cubs hoped big for a bigger talent. As widespread as their top prospect, a top-50 prospect according to Baseball America, as by MLB Pipeline, Shaw didn't let them down. 

Already in his second season pro, Shaw was in Triple-A, as much a testament to his natural talent as his hard work. The Cubs trading away Isaac Paredes over the prior winter was a vote of confidence in Shaw as their third baseman of the future.

The early-season adversity was a test of his mettle, but Shaw's response—racing at Triple-A and thriving at the Premier12 tournament (.412, 14 RBIs in a week)—is a tale of a young man learning to prosper in hard knocks. 

He's no prospect; rather, a player honing his craft, learning to adjust to third base's defensive requirements, and working toward a childhood dream. Shaw's athleticism, bat quickness, baseball intel, have the Cubs foreseeing a cornerstone who can thrill Wrigley's loyal faithful.

A mechanical adjustment in his swing, in his regulation of his leg kick, has been a priority in his development. That adjustment, viewed in Triple-A video by The Wrigley Wire's X, corrects timing issues that thwarted his .172 major-league debut, in which time he accumulated a 22.5% hard-hit percentage. 

It's a comparison drawn to his own careers, in that adjustments of that sort are to be expected of prospect hitters to adjust to velocity in MLB. 

Shaw's willingness to make that adjustment speaks to his maturity level as a player and his willingness to get better, a reminder that even high-prospect talent develops slowly.

 

Matt Shaw Stats

Numbers only partially express Shaw's tale, however. Numbers can’t express his heart. Over more than 183 games in his first three years in Triple-A, from 2023-2025, Shaw hit .297/.391/.522, with 35 home runs, 113 RBIs, and 51 stolen bases. His walk (10.4) and strikeout (17.2) rates suggest a mature, disciplined hitter. 

Shaw set Double-A and Triple-A ablaze in 2024 with a .284/.379/.488 batting average, with 21 home runs, 31 stolen bases in a combined 121 games. His Triple-A stint (.298/.395/.534, seven HRs in 35 games) made it a given Shaw could hold his own against top-shelf pitching.

The big leagues debut for Shaw was a humbling experience in his first season. Shaw was a .172/.294/.241 hitting, including a solo homer, with 18 strikeouts in his first 68 PAs. Swing tweak timing problems came with a 22.5% hard-hit percentage as well as a trip to Iowa. Shaw, though, didn't dwell—instead, he regrouped.

For Triple-A, Shaw's hitting .286/.409/.560 with six HRs, five steals, and a career-high 151 wRC in 24 games. His 15.5% walk percentage as well as his 10.0% strikeout percentage, combined with his 11-for-20 span in his most recent five games, suggest a player re-finding his confidence. T

he shorter leg kick, a tactical adjustment designed to refine his timing, seems to pay dividends, which matches up with his current hot stretch as well as smoothing his way towards a return to the big leagues. It's a tweak, but it's a great step towards living up to his potential.

 

Chicago Cubs Depth Chart

The Cubs infield is a tale of anchors and question marks. Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson hold down shortstop and second base, anchoring with defense which was elite, hitting that was steady. But third base has been a merry-go-round, with third-year journeymen in Justin Turner, Nicky Lopez, Vidal Brujan, and Jon Berti rotating in. Turner, in his 40s, adds veteran savvy but no more pop. Lopez, a defensive gem, prioritizes glove over bat. Brujan and Berti, quick-handed, multi-tool, haven’t filled out the role with steady offense. The result? Cubs third basemen rank among the weakest in the league in production, in WAR.

This was Shaw's Opening Day moment. The Cubs gave Shaw Opening Day rep as a testament to their confidence in his upside. His early skidding required a patchwork platoon, however, but Turner, Lopez, Matt Shaw: Shining Prospect for Cubs Read to Make Major League Debut

The Chicago Cubs anticipate a jolt in 2025, and their top prospect infielder, Matt Shaw, can make it happen. Shaw, a mere 23 years old, was given a nod in Opening Day's lineup but struggled in April, sending him to Triple-A Iowa. Rumors in Wrigley Stadium now suggest his return to a potential set, which creates buzz among fans as much as in fantasy baseball. With a rare blend of power, speed, as well as patience, Shaw's rise to the big leagues is as much a tale of grit as it is potential. Here's an explanation of prospect stock, statistical trend, the Cubs' infield situation, as well as his potential in fantasy, supplemented by a healthy dosage of human element driving his rise.

 

Matt Shaw Fantasy Baseball Outlook 

Matt Shaw is a tantalizing talent in fantasy baseball—a season-altering player. His minor league ledger shouts out for 20-20 potential, with power to go along with speed, along with a knack for getting on base. ATC pegs his batting line at .253/.324/.417, along with 16 HRs, along with 17 steals in 430 ABs in 2025, but a season's time might yield 20 HRs, along with 20 steals, a goldmine at third base. His NFBC ADP of 334 is a steal, given his demotion but not his upside if he gains everyday time. 

Shaw's Triple-A reawakening—11-for-20 over a five-game stretch—still stands as evidence that he's solved his timing issues from his time in MLB. His walk percentages (MLB, 14.7%; Triple-A, 15.5%) suggest a high OBP, as does runs in a lineup in front of Kyle Tucker, Seiya Suzuki, and Swanson. 

The short leg kick, tactical adjustment, should carry over to better timing versus big leaguers, as well as more hard-hit percentage, along with overall production. On defense, still learning third base, his bat guarantees that there still exists a place in the lineup. The worry exists in his stress tolerance in MLB, but his adaptability, in Triple-A, as well as international play, instills confidence.

In redraft leagues, Shaw's a hold down the stretch with potential. Dynasty and keeper leaguers, Shaw's a building-block third base prospect with top-10 value by season's end in 2026. Owners should sprint—back to Shaw, his return can make a frenzy in a waiver wire.

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