Alex caruso
Within the last decade, the Cubs went 4-for-4 with the college hitters they selected in the first round of the MLB Draft.
Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber helped end a 108-year championship drought with their performances in the 2016 World Series. Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner already signed contract extensions that should keep them in Chicago through at least the 2026 season. If the Cubs are right again, Matt Shaw will be on a fast track to Wrigley Field.
With the No. 13 pick on Sunday night, the Cubs bet on Shaw’s future, choosing a Maryland infielder who was named the Big Ten player of the year and the Cape Cod League MVP in the last 12 months.
Shaw, 21, posted a .341 batting average with 24 homers, 69 RBIs and a 1.142 OPS in 62 games with the Terps this year. That strong track record boosted Shaw, who was largely overlooked while coming out of Worcester Academy in Massachusetts, where his only serious college offers were from Maryland and Northeastern.
Growing up as a Red Sox fan in New England, Shaw modeled his game after Dustin Pedroia, another undersized infielder who won four Gold Gloves as a second baseman and retired with 1,805 career hits. Shaw, a shortstop, is listed as 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, but it’s doubtful that will become his long-term position.
The Cubs have a Gold Glove shortstop who’s in the first season of a seven-year, $177 million contract. Even before Shaw joined a video …. to be continued
Read More
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Google News Sports – https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiQGh0dHBzOi8vdGhlYXRobGV0aWMuY29tLzQ2Nzg2MzAvMjAyMy8wNy8xMC9jdWJzLWRyYWZ0LW1hdHQtc2hhdy_SAUZodHRwczovL3RoZWF0aGxldGljLmNvbS80Njc4NjMwLzIwMjMvMDcvMTAvY3Vicy1kcmFmdC1tYXR0LXNoYXcvP2FtcD0x?oc=5
