Matt Shaw Stats & Scouting Report

AB	312
AVG	.279
OBP	.373
SLG	.468
HR	14

Full name Matthew James Shaw
Born 11/06/2001 in Springfield, MA
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Maryland
Drafted in the 1st round (13th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2023 (signed for $4,848,500).

View Draft Report

School: Maryland Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.7
BA Grade:55/High
Tools:Hit: 55. Power: 55. Run: 55. Field: 45. Arm: 45.

A highly-competitive middle infielder, Shaw started his career as the everyday second baseman for Maryland as a freshman in 2021, before assuming the starting shortstop role in his sophomore year. Shaw has been a powerful hitter throughout his collegiate career and broke Maryland’s program home run record in 2023, while also blitzing through the Cape Cod League in 2022, where he ranked as the No. 1 prospect. He is listed at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, but has significantly more strength than you’d expect from that frame thanks to snap-quick hands and immense wrist and forearm strength. He hit .344/.447/.695 in 61 games in 2023, with 23 home runs and 20 doubles, a 13.8% walk rate and 13.5% strikeout rate. Shaw has a closed stance and large leg kick but his bat speed and strength allow him to drive the ball to all fields with authority and he wore out the right-center gap with home run power as a junior, with a 90th percentile exit velocity around 107 mph. After struggling with contact against secondaries as a freshman and sophomore, Shaw improved significantly in that area in 2023, though he does still expand the strike zone a bit too much. He’s an above-average runner with standout baserunning instincts and went 18-for-19 (94.7%) on the bases in 2023. Shaw should have the defensive ability to stick on the infield, but there’s skepticism that shortstop is his long-term home. He should be fine as a serviceable second baseman with fringe-average arm strength.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 55/High

Track Record: Shaw had a storied three-year career at Maryland. He set the program’s all-time home run record with 53, won the 2023 Big Ten Conference player of the year award and won the 2022 Cape Cod League MVP award after leading the league with a .360 batting average for Bourne. He became the highest-drafted player in Maryland history when the Cubs drafted him 13th overall in 2023 and signed for $4,848,500. Shaw continued to mash after signing, batting .357/.400/.618 with eight homers, 28 RBIs and 15 steals in 38 games while vaulting to Double-A in his pro debut.

Scouting Report: Shaw isn’t particularly big at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, but he’s strong in his frame and packs a punch at the plate. His quick hands, strong forearms and exceptional barrel accuracy allow him to consistently drive balls hard to all fields. He regularly squares balls up and is particularly adept at driving the ball the other way to right-center field. Shaw is an aggressive hitter and doesn’t walk much, but his natural feel for the barrel helps keep his strikeouts down. He projects to be an above-average hitter despite his aggressive approach and makes enough hard contact to envision above-average power with lots of doubles. He further enhances his offensive game as an above-average runner with elite basestealing instincts. Shaw primarily played shortstop at Maryland and is serviceable there, but his fringy arm strength plays better at second base. The Cubs experimented with him at third base and were encouraged by the early results. He plays extremely hard and is a polished, mature player for his age.

The Future: The Cubs internally see similarities between Shaw and Dustin Pedroia in both ability and playing style. Shaw is on the fast track and has a chance to make his major league debut in 2024.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Field: 45 | Arm: 45

Draft Prospects

School: Maryland Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.7
BA Grade:55/High
Tools:Hit: 55. Power: 55. Run: 55. Field: 45. Arm: 45.

A highly-competitive middle infielder, Shaw started his career as the everyday second baseman for Maryland as a freshman in 2021, before assuming the starting shortstop role in his sophomore year. Shaw has been a powerful hitter throughout his collegiate career and broke Maryland’s program home run record in 2023, while also blitzing through the Cape Cod League in 2022, where he ranked as the No. 1 prospect. He is listed at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, but has significantly more strength than you’d expect from that frame thanks to snap-quick hands and immense wrist and forearm strength. He hit .344/.447/.695 in 61 games in 2023, with 23 home runs and 20 doubles, a 13.8% walk rate and 13.5% strikeout rate. Shaw has a closed stance and large leg kick but his bat speed and strength allow him to drive the ball to all fields with authority and he wore out the right-center gap with home run power as a junior, with a 90th percentile exit velocity around 107 mph. After struggling with contact against secondaries as a freshman and sophomore, Shaw improved significantly in that area in 2023, though he does still expand the strike zone a bit too much. He’s an above-average runner with standout baserunning instincts and went 18-for-19 (94.7%) on the bases in 2023. Shaw should have the defensive ability to stick on the infield, but there’s skepticism that shortstop is his long-term home. He should be fine as a serviceable second baseman with fringe-average arm strength.