CHICAGO -- One of the ideas behind moving Matt Shaw into a super utility role this season was that it enhanced the Cubs’ bench, improving the team’s overall depth and manager Craig Counsell’s in-game maneuvering. For the past two months, that element to Chicago’s roster was missing.
Prior to Friday’s game against the Reds at Wrigley Field, the Cubs activated Shaw from the 10-day injured list, following his comeback from a persistent left hand injury. To clear a spot for Shaw on the active roster, the North Siders optioned outfielder Kevin Alcántara to Triple-A Iowa.
“He just makes the roster better,” Counsell said of Shaw.
Shaw, 24, sustained a left hand/wrist sprain after fouling off a pitch from Brewers lefty Aaron Ashby in the seventh inning of the Cubs’ 4-3, 10-inning win on June 28. The move to the IL was initially viewed as a precautionary step, but Shaw continued to experience discomfort with his hand when trying to ramp up his swinging in the early weeks of his rehab.
In recent weeks, Shaw started to turn a corner as he built back up to facing live pitching, allowing for a Minor League rehab stint with Triple-A Iowa. He appeared in five games, hit .316 (6-for-19) and cleared the back-to-back games hurdle on Tuesday and Wednesday with no lingering pain.
“I finally could get the full-effort swings,” Shaw said. “I don’t really know why it happened. It was a normal swing that it ended up getting hurt on, so it’s one of those things where I’ve just got to keep strengthening it, put it in a good place and go out there and play. I can’t worry about fluke injuries like that. I’ve just got to keep playing.”
Overall this season, Shaw has hit .246/.322/.415 with four home runs, 20 RBIs, a .737 OPS and 104 OPS+ through 56 games for the Cubs. He has bounced all over the infield and added outfield to the mix this season after serving as Chicago’s primary third baseman as a rookie last year. Shaw had an .899 OPS in 12 games leading up to the injury.
Counsell said Shaw will return to his previous role as a super sub who will also get starts on occasion, especially against left-handed pitching. Shaw can offer days off for the Cubs’ regular starters around the infield and outfield, but also serve as a late-game option for pinch-running, pinch-hitting or defense.
“Matt does a bunch of things well,” Counsell said. “You don’t know which game you’re going to run into that situation [where you need a late-game replacement]. Frankly, most games you don’t with our roster. But, there’s going to be some days where we do run into it and he’s valuable when he’s on the bench.”
Other injury updates
• SS Dansby Swanson: After staying back in Chicago to focus on his rehab, Swanson, on the 10-day IL due to a left oblique injury, was able to go through defensive work at shortstop prior to Friday’s game against the Reds. Counsell said Swanson is right on schedule since landing on the IL on Aug. 17.
• RHP Edward Cabrera: Counsell noted that Cabrera, who is on the 15-day IL while dealing with a blister on his right middle finger, threw a bullpen session on Tuesday. The righty also faced hitters in a live BP workout on Friday, with a Minor League rehab assignment likely to follow. Cabrera will likely return as a reliever.
• RHP Ben Brown: Counsell said that the Cubs are still “gathering opinions” with regard to the recent setback for Brown. Until the team has more information in hand, a timetable for Brown’s potential return will remain in a holding pattern.