May 12, 2025
By Field Level Contributor
The Chicago Cubs are leaning into their youth movement, and a long-anticipated decision is finally taking shape: one of the club’s top-performing prospects is set to be promoted to the majors by June 1, according to organizational sources.
All signs point to Matt Shaw, the Cubs’ highly regarded infield prospect, as the player making that leap.
Shaw, who has been torching Triple-A pitching with the Iowa Cubs, has made a compelling case that he’s outgrown the minor leagues. Through his first 30 games this season, the 22-year-old is slashing .326/.411/.537, with 7 home runs, 21 RBIs, and 8 stolen bases—all while playing solid defense at both shortstop and second base.
“He’s checked every box we wanted to see,” a Cubs front office member shared anonymously. “He’s playing with confidence, and he’s making it very hard to justify keeping him in the minors.”
Drafted in the first round out of the University of Maryland in 2023, Shaw has moved quickly through the system, bringing a polished bat and professional approach to every level he’s touched. Now, with questions around consistency in the Cubs’ middle infield and offensive production lagging, his arrival seems both timely and necessary.
The Cubs have had a rocky start to the 2025 campaign and are in clear need of a spark. Shaw’s contact skills, plate discipline, and emerging power give him the tools to deliver exactly that.
Manager Craig Counsell has remained non-committal when asked about potential roster moves but did say, “We’re going to reward performance and do what’s best for the club moving forward.”
With June 1 looming as a realistic target date, Cubs fans should prepare to welcome the franchise’s next breakout star to Wrigley Field. If Shaw continues at this pace, his presence could not only bolster the Cubs’ playoff hopes—but also mark the beginning of a new core taking shape on the North Side.
