The Chicago Cubs have found creative ways to use utility specialist Matt Shaw this season.
The 24-year-old lost his starting job this past offseason after the Cubs signed Alex Bregman to a massive five-year, $175 million deal. The addition of Bregman put Shaw in a tough spot heading into 2026.
However, the Cubs continue to find ways to get Shaw in the lineup.
He has played all around the field in the team’s first 27 games. Shaw has started 11 games in right field, two games at third base, one game at first base, and recently drew his first career start in center field.
We can now add another position to that list, as Shaw is the Cubs' starting second baseman for Sunday’s series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers. With Dansby Swanson starting at designated hitter, Nico Hoerner moves over to shortstop, and Shaw draws his first start at second base this year.
His start at second base marks the fifth different position that Shaw has started at to begin the season. The 24-year-old is really embracing this new role and has done well at all five positions he has played.
The Cubs also occasionally use Shaw as a pinch-hitter in the later innings. He is 4-for-13 (.308 batting average) with one double and one RBI in nine games off the bench.
Shaw is really showing his versatility in the early going. He ranks in the 77th percentile in Fielding Run Value, has played five different positions in the field, and has been productive as a pinch-hitter off the bench.
Most importantly, though, Shaw is finally showing significant strides as a hitter.
The second-year pro is slashing .300/.338/.483 with two home runs, five doubles, nine RBI, and two stolen bases across 24 games this season. He has shown significant offensive growth and seems more comfortable at the plate.
Shaw has nine hits in his last 15 at-bats (.600 batting average) and has only struck out twice since April 14. He’s being more selective in the box, and that has helped his overall metrics in the early going.
His expected batting average (.294), expected slugging (.446), launch angle sweet-spot rate (38%), squared-up rate (30.8%), whiff rate (18.7%), and strikeout rate (18.2%) are all up from last year. Each of those metrics currently ranks in the 35% of the league.
For comparison, his expected batting average (.237), expected slugging (.375), launch angle sweet-spot rate (35.3%), squared-up rate (22.5%), and strikeout rate (21.5%) all ranked in the bottom half of the league last year.
Shaw has no doubt been a key piece for this Cubs team through the first month. He continues to play all around the field, and his bat is starting to heat up.