Let's take a quick second to feel some joy following what's been a shit-show for the Bears during the past month. Matt Shaw and ex-Cubs pitcher Rich Hill led Team USA to a 12-2 victory over Mexico in a must-win game Thursday night to advance to the Super Round of the Premier12 Tournament.
Shaw has been a highlight machine throughout the group stage of the international tournament and he delivered once again on Thursday. The right-handed hitter blew the game wide open with a three-run triple in the fifth inning en route to another rule run win for the United States.
Matt Shaw with a three run triple and it’s 11-1 USA! pic.twitter.com/q4kFGVweWu
— Jeff Duda (@INTLBaseball24) November 15, 2024
Shaw also drew a walk and ended group stage play with a 1.662 OPS. The top Cubs prospect went 11-for-19 in the opening round of the tournament and led Team USA with 12 RBI and 20 total bases.
Oh and how about this Cubs parallel.
In 2019, Seiya Suzuki was the MVP of the @Premier12.
— Alex Cohen (@voiceofcohen2) November 15, 2024
He hit .444 with 12 hits, 3 HR and 13 RBI in 9 games.
Matt Shaw just finished group play with 11 hits, 2 HR and 12 RBI.
Unprecedented success from the Cubs #1 prospect as he heads to Japan for the Super Round.
Amazing.
Ans shoutout to Rich Hill, who made his MLB debut with the Cubs back in 2005, and at age 44 still has some juice left. He started for Team USA in the must-win game against Mexico and the lefty tossed 3.1 shutout innings, striking out six batters on the night.
😤🇺🇸 At 44, Rich Hill is still that dude. #Premier12 || @Premier12 | @USABaseball pic.twitter.com/guUn5IrMtN
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) November 15, 2024
The United States is now headed to Tokyo, Japan, for the Super Round of the Premier12 Tournament. Hopefully it's not Shaw's only trip to Tokyo during the next four months or so as the Cubs are set to play the Dodgers on March 18 and 19 to begin the 2025 MLB season in Tokyo.
Need this on the Cubs.
Side view slo-mo: pic.twitter.com/5HmzeEXXGf
— Brad (@ballskwok) November 15, 2024
(Previous Update)
Cubs top prospect Matt Shaw is on fire at this year's Premier12 Tournament with Team USA. After collecting seven hits during the weekend, which included a 7-RBI game on Sunday, the 23-year-old homered for the second straight night on Monday against Venezuela.
Folks, look at that beautiful leg kick.
Matt Shaw, the Cub star who was promised???pic.twitter.com/qga62kgXxk
— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) November 12, 2024
A no-doubter from Shaw, who drove in another run later in the game with a sac-fly.
Shaw is currently rated as the team's No. 1 prospect in multiple publications and is ranked 22nd in MLB Pipeline's top-100 list. His name has been brought up in trade rumors already, but I think the list of players the Cubs would actually trade Shaw away for is extremely short.
Again, only my opinion, but I'd go as far to say that there isn't a realistic pitching trade target the Cubs would trade Shaw for this offseason.
The only two players in Team USA history with seven RBIs in a single game:
— USA Baseball (@USABaseball) November 11, 2024
⚾️ Ken Griffey Jr.
⚾️ Matt Shaw pic.twitter.com/H1ToX4Tzn5
Even if Nico Hoerner has fully recovered from his forearm surgery and is ready to go by Opening Day in 2025, I still want Shaw on the 26-man roster. He has enough ability on defense to move around the field and get consistent playing time on this roster without rotting on the bench.
This dude can hit. Need Matt Shaw in Tokyo to begin the season.
(Previous Update)
Cubs top prospect Matt Shaw is playing like a star with Team USA at this year's Premier12 Tournament. The 23-year-old went 4-for-5 with SEVEN RBI on Sunday night, when he capped off the victory with a walk-off three-run homer to end the Netherlands' night early via the run rule.
Shaw began tournament play going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, getting on base a fourth time with a HBP against Puerto Rico. The infielder started at third base and batted second for the United States on Sunday against the Netherlands, leading Team USA to a 12-2 win in eight innings. (10-run mercy rule)
🇺🇸😤 A statement win for USA! #Premier12 || @Premier12 | @USABaseball pic.twitter.com/ndxYEx0Skm
— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) November 11, 2024
Shaw recorded a pair of singles and added a three-double to his batting line as the United States evened their tournament record to 1-1.
No matter where Shaw has played, give him a bat and he'll hit the ball hard all over the park.
MATT SHAW IS NOT HUMAN!#Premier12 pic.twitter.com/09Snz0FeXc
— USA Baseball (@USABaseball) November 11, 2024
What is the Premier12 Tournament?
The Premier12 is arguably the biggest and most important international baseball tournament behind the World Baseball Classic and the Olympics. The tournament features the top 12 men’s national baseball teams as determined by WBSC’s ranking system at the end of 2023.
You can read more about it on MLB.com.
Heading into the 2025 season, Shaw could be battling for a starting role at second base as the Cubs continue to evaluate Nico Hoerner's recovery from forearm surgery. The 2023 first round draft pick has quickly shot up through the team's farm system, ending this past year at Triple-A with the Iowa Cubs.
Shaw finished the 2024 season hitting .284/.379/.488 in 121 games between his time at Double-A and Triple-A. He posted a 146 wRC+, had an 18.2 K% and 11.9 BB% in 523 plate appearances. Shaw homered 21 times and was also a weapon once he reached base, swiping 31 bags in 42 attempts.
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