The Cubs released a list of 20 non-roster invitees to Major League Spring Training on Friday that was headlined by top prospect Matt Shaw, who ranks 19th on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list and looks positioned to compete for Chicago’s starting third-base job.
Shaw was one of four Top 100 prospects who received invitations to the Cubs’ big league camp. The others are right-hander Cade Horton (No. 52), catcher Moises Ballesteros (No. 69) and infielder James Triantos (No. 73).
The 23-year-old Shaw was Chicago’s first-round Draft pick in 2023 out of the University of Maryland and has already rocketed to the top of the farm system. He posted a .284/.379/.488 slash line during a ’24 season split between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa, with 21 home runs and 31 stolen bases in 523 plate appearances.
His path to third base at Wrigley Field was cleared when the Cubs traded big league third baseman Isaac Paredes and Top 100 prospect Cam Smith to the Astros in the Kyle Tucker deal.
“No matter how much the opportunity might present itself,” Shaw said last month, “it’s still going to be, ‘You’ve got to earn that spot.’ Hopefully, given the opportunity, I’ll be able to show what I’ve got and be able to earn that position.”
Here’s the full list of Cubs’ non-roster invitees to date:
Right-handed pitchers
Phil Bickford, Brandon Birdsell, Ben Heller, Horton, Brad Keller, Brooks Kriske, Trevor Richards and Antonio Santos
Left-handed pitchers
Brandon Hughes and Riley Martin
Infielders
Jonathon Long, Nicky Lopez, Shaw and Triantos
Outfielders
Brett Bateman and Christian Franklin
Catchers
Pablo Aliendo, Ballesteros, Reese McGuire and Carlos Pérez
