With the Chicago Cubs fighting for the 2023 MLB Playoffs, there's little focus on the future of the organization at the moment. The attention is on the Major League team, not the prospects who may or may not see the field in the future.
However, some of those prospects have worked their way onto the Cubs' roster this season and are playing major roles in the current playoff chase, so it's a good idea to keep an eye on some of the others who are performing in the pipeline.
One of those players is their first round pick from the 2023 draft.
Chicago selected infielder Matt Shaw 13th overall out of the University of Maryland and he's already starting to show why he could potentially become a cornerstone piece of this franchise.
Melissa Lockhard of The Athletic writes, "Shaw’s stock rose throughout his junior season at Maryland and he continued that progress as a pro, putting together one of the most impressive debuts in this class. He killed the ball in the pitcher-friendly Midwest League, hitting .393 with a 1.082 OPS in 20 games in South Bend before finishing the season in Double A, where he posted an .852 OPS. Shaw also stole 15 bases in 18 chances and played well defensively up the middle. He could arrive in Chicago very quickly."
The Cubs have an organizational philosophy to blend their veterans and young players on the field at the Major League level, providing a learning environment for them to grow under.
With Shaw making his way up to Double-A during his first professional season within a loaded pipeline, it's very promising that he could be putting Chicago's jersey on at some point soon.
He's projected to make his debut at some point during the 2025 season, but if he continues to shine, the front office may want to see what he can do before then.
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