![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chicagotribune.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ctc-z-Royals-Cubs-Spring-Baseball_260468675.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1\")
Shaw\u2019s 5-foot-10 stature doesn\u2019t make the Cubs hesitant to get him work at first base. They believe his athleticism will allow Shaw to handle the position, particularly since any playing time there would be limited with Michael Busch getting the everyday starts.<\/p>\n
\u201cOverall, I feel pretty comfortable there, getting to the bag stuff like that,\u201d Shaw said. \u201cI have a little more time, I think it\u2019s going to be the big thing. The angles are just kind of the opposite of third, but kind of the same in that sense. As far as ball off the bat, I feel good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shaw has started a game at six different positions this spring: six in right field, two at second and third base, and one at first and center field. Manager Craig Counsell has been impressed by how Shaw has handled all the defensive challenges the Cubs have given him this spring.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re giving him a difficult spring training experience here,\u201d Counsell told reporters. \u201cWe\u2019re moving him around a lot. You\u2019re going to see him at first base. I respect what he\u2019s doing this spring, it hasn\u2019t been easy for sure. But I\u2019d rather make it hard right now and then go into the season with at least some experience at all these things.<\/p>\n
\u201cMatt\u2019s athleticism is what shows up first. That makes you confident that the more he\u2019s out there, it\u2019s just going to keep getting better. I think that\u2019s the takeaway from the coaching staff. His athleticism is going to allow him to get better at this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Being able to play multiple positions around the field represents Shaw\u2019s clearest path to regular playing time without an injury at third base or the middle infield. After getting 437 plate appearances in his rookie season, Shaw feels a lot more confident heading into this year knowing his athleticism will get him opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, it\u2019s been a lot of fun, it kind of feels a little bit like Little League and playing a bunch of different positions and moving around, so I\u2019ve really enjoyed it,\u201d Shaw said. \u201cOutfield, it\u2019s a lot of fun running around, catching fly balls. First is great, picking balls and kind of more action being involved in all the plays. Second base, played a lot growing up so that kind of feels a little bit like home, really.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shaw joked that he actually hasn\u2019t played much third base this spring after making 114 starts there last season. But ultimately, Shaw knows how his versatility is an asset.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to get as many at-bats as I possibly can and that means playing a lot of different positions, so it kind of just is what it is,\u201d Shaw said. \u201cIf I can continue to get better at those positions and be in a good place to, number one, get a lot of at-bats, and number two, give guys days off if they need it to keep our team healthy.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, like I said, the nuances take time (at first), but it\u2019s really been enjoyable to move around, almost mentally freeing in a way like a kid again, moving around, playing different positions.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MESA, Ariz. \u2014 Three days of early work at first base was all Matt Shaw needed before his position debut in spring game action for the Chicago… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":162923,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-162918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n