The All-Star break has come to an end and as the second half gets underway we’re getting updated top-100 prospects lists. Baseball America, one of the most popular prospects publication, released its midseason rankings on Friday and 2023 Cubs first round pick Matt Shaw cracked the top-100.
The Cubs selected Shaw with the 13th overall pick in this year’s draft, taking the Maryland infielder, who won the 2023 Big Ten Player of the Year Award. The 21-year-old, right-handed hitter was a monster at the plate in college, posting a 1.036 OPS in three seasons with Maryland. Shaw’s 2023 season was his best, slashing .341/.445/.697, with 24 home runs in 62 games. What’s even better is that Shaw showed good plate discipline, walking 43 times while striking out 42 times in 317 plate appearances.
Everywhere Shaw has played, he’s raked. In 2022, Shaw played in the Cape Cod League during the summer and in 36 games he recorded a 1.006 OPS.
Cubs in Baseball America’s Top-100 Prospects List
You can check out the full top-100 prospects list from Baseball America below.
Cubs Prospects Rankings
Pete Crow-Armstrong: 16th (Pre-2023: 25th)
Cade Horton: 31st (Pre-2023: Unranked)
Matt Shaw: 95th (Pre-2023: N/A)
The biggest jump is right-handed starting pitcher Cade Horton. The Cubs drafted him with the seventh overall pick in the first round in 2022, and the immediate reaction was a mix of “what the hell” and “WHY?!?!” Several fans were irate over the pick, but a year later the Cubs are loving Horton.
Horton made his pro debut in 2023, beginning the season with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at low A-Ball. Horton overmatched hitters at the lower level and after four starts he was promoted to the South Bend Cubs at advanced A-Ball. The 21-year-old has made nine starts in the Midwest League, posting a 3.89 ERA, while striking out 57 batters in 39.1 innings.
Overall in 2023, Horton has recorded a 3.19 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 53.2 innings.
Oh and back to the 2022 draft, how about this tidbit.
Meanwhile, Pete Crow-Armstrong has followed up his breakout 2022 season by posting an .826 OPS and 120 wRC+ with excellent defense in center field.
PCA has slashed .272/.353/.476, with 10 home runs and 23 stolen bases in 61 games so far at Double-A this season. The 21-year-old outfielder remains the consensus top prospect in the Cubs minor league system. PCA was also recently ranked 8th by Prospects Live. MLB Pipeline also currently ranks Crow-Armstrong as the 8th best prospect in baseball.
As for Shaw, Cubs fans should be able to see him play at one of the team’s minor league affiliates before the end of the season. It’s been a while since the Cubs have drafted a college hitter in the first round, but if the trend continues, Shaw will get back on the field after signing.
Back in 2018, Cubs first rounder Nico Hoerner played in 14 minor league games after he was drafted. Ian Happ played in 67 games in 2015, Kyle Schwarber played in 72 games in 2014 and Kris Bryant played in 36 games in 2013.
Finally, Kevin Alcántara has once again been left off a top-100 list. One bad month. Oh well. He’s been a beast since June and hopefully he keeps it up.
