Matt Shaw has not seen the bright side of the day after being demoted in mid-April after what was deemed to be his stretch of “uninspired play” in his early runs with the Chicago Cubs. But despite all those doubts on what he can bring to the table for the club, Shaw is still emerging as a hot favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year this season.

That is, of course, if he can step up and deliver in his return to the Majors. Nothing has been easy for MLB rookies, and the challenge is definitely present as it can be. Ranked as the 28th-best prospect in the minors, it does seem that there are a lot of promising hopes for Shaw to eventually emerge and come up with a bigger spark in his games moving forward.

As of late, the Cubs have been running a timeshare in the third base, which includes Nicky Lopez, Jon Berti, and Vidal Bruján. The club now moves to put Shaw to assume the majority of the responsibility on that end and ensure that there will be more spark on that side as the Cubs try to come up with a much more competitive season.

Early Struggles for Shaw

Shaw faced early challenges in his professional career. After making the Opening Day roster in 2025, Shaw struggled at the plate, posting a .172 batting average with one home run and 18 strikeouts in 68 plate appearances over 18 games. Manager Craig Counsell noted that such struggles are common for young hitters and emphasized the importance of growth through adversity.

In response to his performance, the Cubs optioned Shaw to Triple-A Iowa on April 15, 2025, to allow him to gain more consistent at-bats and refine his skills. During his time in Iowa, Shaw made significant adjustments, improving his batting average to .286 with six home runs in 24 games.

These changes included focusing on reducing head movement and refining his swing mechanics, which led to a more controlled approach at the plate. His performance in the minors earned him a recall to the majors, where the Cubs hope his refined skills will bolster their lineup.

Chance at Proving Critics Wrong

Matt Shaw's return to the major leagues presents an opportunity for growth and redemption. During his time in Iowa, Shaw focused on adjusting his swing mechanics, particularly reducing head movement and refining his weight shift, which had contributed to an increased ground ball rate.

These adjustments led to a noticeable improvement in his performance, including a four-hit game and a significant uptick in his batting average and on-base percentage. As Shaw re-enters the major leagues, his recent minor league success suggests he is better prepared to handle the challenges of big-league pitching. His improved plate discipline, as evidenced by a better strikeout-to-walk ratio, indicates a more mature approach at the plate.

Manager Craig Counsell emphasized that such struggles are common for young hitters and that growth often comes through adversity. With the Cubs leading the NL Central and Shaw's recent performance, he has the opportunity to contribute positively to the team's success.

As the Cubs continue to top off the list in the National League Central, Shaw’s return to the game would be a chance for them to keep that spark up and running and make things interesting at this point for the club.