We (me, but I’ll include you) get into these posts in different ways. Some guys stats are just so undeniable; some guys are so close to the majors or have already debuted; some guys hit the ball 507 feet.
It goes on like that for a solid 12 pages of Google. Because I know you’re thirsty, I’ll show you the actual homer now:
Top 6 | BOOM ?
That’s a Shaw GRAND SLAM and the lead for the Terps
Terps 7, Iowa 6 pic.twitter.com/xSrsudEi9z
— Maryland Baseball (@TerpsBaseball) March 31, 2023
That’s it. It’s with a metal bat into 30 MPH winds, and there’s no wild scream from the announcer indicating Matt Shaw hit the ball into orbit. 507-foot homer and it’s unofficially called that by someone named Big Donkey on Twitter. The official Terps account, quoting above, doesn’t even make mention of it. I am reticent to discount anything from a donkey, because A) We all love Donkey Teeth. B) Discounting a donkey makes a jackass out of you. C) There’s no C. How’sever, this feels a little akin to modern myth-making, he said alliteratively. It’s a modern day Paul Bunyan tale. Or akin to Pat Burrell’s exploits in college. Can we believe this is really a 507-foot blast by Matt Shaw? I don’t know. Does it matter? Harder question to answer. So, what can we expect from Matt Shaw for 2025 fantasy baseball?
Here’s a few more clips, less 507-foot-ish:
Matt Shaw shows off the speed ?
His triple makes it 4-2 #Cubs! pic.twitter.com/NcbRRNFF64
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 8, 2024
And uno mas so you can see him run some more:
.@Cubs 2023 first-round pick Matt Shaw with a 2-run triple! pic.twitter.com/sjVTF8fFxL
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) February 27, 2024
There’s a ton of clips of him. I will say this, the prospect community and Cubs fans already love Matt Shaw. Cool, good on them. There’s plenty of reasons to Shaw-hank your crank. He has 60-grade speed and power. His stats last year across Double and Triple-A were 21/31 and hit .298 in Triple-A with a 19.7 K% and 11.2 BB%. The 23-year-old can play 2B, SS and 3B and there’s a ton of clips of him playing solid 3rd. He’s also on the precipice of breaking with the club, after entering last Spring with an opportunity for a spot. There’s a ton to like here and zero reasons why he doesn’t break camp. Or is there?! Damn, Mr. Reversal, you scared the crap out of me.
So, I don’t want to be a hater, but I need a telestrator. I am a poet and aware of it. Look at those clips again of him swinging, notice anything? If I had a telestrator, I’d point out his leg kick. Who is he, Shawn Michaels? That’s a good way to get absolutely killed in the majors. Last guy who had a huge kick like that that I remember succeeding is Luke Voit. What’s that? He’s in the Mexican Leagues now? Okay. No, there are some guys who succeed with it, Joc Pederson comes to mind, Justin Turner, David Ortiz, though his was much faster. MLB pitchers can really exploit someone like Matt Shaw, if he doesn’t quicken his leg step. Though, quickening the leg kick, might make him a gap power guy. He could become a pull-only guy for power, but then he becomes–Hey, Isaac Paredes, where does Matt Shaw play? I guess Paredes can go to DH, Seiya goes to the outfield and, well, pause, the Cubs have a ton of bats. Matt Shaw can succeed, but I’m currently on the low side of what to expect from him. If he hits .214 in Spring Training this year, as he did last year, questions might start coming that the Cubs should trade him for an arm, then he can become a 10/20/.230 hitter on the Pirates. For 2025 fantasy baseball, I’ll give Matt Shaw projections of 38/7/41/.236/18 in 309 ABs with a chance for much more or much less.
Remember when everyone was all hype for Matt Mervis? I do
Ha I do
rap snitches, tellin all they business
sit in the court and be they own star witness
do you see the perpetrator? yeah I’m right here
fuck around get the whole label sent up for years
YES! We have to start drafting, Grimey
Haha yes but gimme a few more weeks to get the stench of football off of me!
Ha, ok
Btw worst season ever amirite? Oof.
It’s so bad
Delusional Cubs fan here (hand raise emoji)… and would point out that Shaw does (reportedly) employ a different leg kick for vairous counts/situations. Granted, you covered the issues with modifying or ditching the leg kick, but maybe the adjustment comes more quickly since he is accustomed to modifying it/not using it? I believe this is why he’s been able to keep his K rate down as he climbs the through the Minors. I try not to jump on the Cubs prospect bandwagon for fantasy so I have no shares of Shaw. Just hear to offer a reason for optimism to go along with the flaws. I alsowouldn’t bet on Shaw breaking camp with the Cubs unless Nico isn’t close to being healthy or one of Nico/Bellinger/Paredes gets traded.
Could totally be true and why I covered him…he could be excellent and the leg kick is fixable and there’s tools here…hopefully he gets there
I kind of like Shaw maybe i am biased since i have him in a dynasty league. Thats good you that you mentioned reports of him playing a good 3b because I recall concerns about his arm. I thought 2b might be his spot, but 3b is the need now.
As soon as you said leg kick i immediately thought of Justin Turner. You covered it a sentence later. I still had to say it to compliment myself for almost keeping up with you. Lol
Ha, yeah, I hear ya…I think there could be something here for sure, but I don’t see quite the level of hype Cubs fans seem to see in him
True. It’s not like cubbie fans have ever done that before.
It would also be a mistake if Suzuki isn’t their full time DH. Lets just be nice and say he is a below average OF. I dont know how he won multiple gold gloves in japan.
Cubbies fans? No, never! Seiya at DH would work for me, losing Tauchman was a good start
I will only get excited if his walkup music is Indian Outlaw.
What if it’s just loudly the PA announcer saying Pshaw like he’s annoyed?
Haha! Can we just get Caissie up for the Casey at the bat jokes?
Haha, yes please
Is it just me, or do you not seem very excited about the incoming group of prospects?
All of these rookies could be difference makers, but realistically only a handful will
You just don’t seem to have as much optimism for this group as you’ve had for others. I could be mistaken, though. Just how I’m reading/remembering it.
Yeah, I hear ya, they have question marks, that’s why I’m writing them as that
I know this is an itch question but who would you keep in a 13 team dynasty…Drake Baldwin or Dalton Rushing…. Only keep one… thank you!
Rushing, but I would ask Itch
Good read. All your sage advice reminds me of a quote from Matt’s great great uncle, George Bernard, who once said, “ The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.“
Ha, I like that! I’m back from Paris btw, so I’m ready for my first draft
Ok, sounds good. Let’s shoot for doing one that starts later this week.
Sweet or early next week…I will mention it in tomorrow’s post to see if I can drum up some takers