Matt Shaw selected by Chicago Cubs with No. 13 pick in 2023 MLB Draft

Former Maryland shortstop Matt Shaw has been selected by the Chicago Cubs with the No. 13 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.

Shaw becomes the highest Terp ever drafted into the MLB. Outfielder John Hetrick previously held the record after being drafted No. 17 overall in 1967 by the Detroit Tigers. Shaw is also the first Terp taken in the first round since 2007.

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound infielder earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors the past season, following Chris “Bubba” Alleyne as the second-straight Terp to achieve that feat. Shaw earned All-Big Ten first team honors in back-to-back seasons as well and was a member of the 2021 Big Ten All-Freshman Team. 

Shaw finished his career as the program’s home run leader with 53 blasts. Shaw also ranks second all-time with 166 RBIs. 

The 21-year-old slashed .341/.445/.697 with 24 home runs and 69 RBIs in his final collegiate campaign. He was awarded the Brooks Wallace Award, given to the nation’s best shortstop. 

Shaw starred at Maryland for three years after attending Worcester Academy in Massachusetts. Shaw led Maryland to back-to-back Big Ten regular season titles in 2022 and 2023 — winning a school-record 48 games in Shaw’s sophomore season — while claiming the program’s first Big Ten tournament championship in 2023. 

While Shaw’s bat is undoubtedly talented, question marks surround his defensive future at shortstop. Shaw will likely move to second base as scouts highlighted arm strength struggles.

The Cubs are currently in the midst of their third-straight sub-.500 campaign if the MLB season ended today. Chicago currently has three prospects in MLB.com’s Top 100 rankings, none of which include middle infielders. The organization’s highest-rated infield prospect is its No. 8 prospect in 19-year old Cristian Hernandez.

Chicago’s shortstop Dansby Swanson is currently signed through 2029, while second baseman Nico Hoerner will become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.