Any time Jarrod Saltalamacchia had somebody inquire within the offseason about one of many high collegiate gamers within the 2023 draft, Matt Shaw, the previous big-leaguer advised all of them the identical factor.
“Listen, he checks every box,” Saltalamacchia would say. “If you pass on this kid, this guy is for sure one of those no doubt going to get to the big leagues, going to have success, he’s going to be a dynamic player.”
Saltalamacchia had seen firsthand how impactful Shaw might be when he served because the assistant coach on Shaw’s Cape Cod League staff, the Bourne Braves, final summer time the place the now 21-year-old shortstop took the following step in his growth en path to changing into the Chicago Cubs’ first-round decide final week.
“He’s just an unbelievable kid,” Saltalamacchia advised the Tribune. “He can play all the positions. He’s a great teammate and he’s always working with other guys. It’s a kid you definitely want in your organization for cultural purposes as well.”
Saltalamacchia turned a useful useful resource for Shaw, who credited the 2013 World Series champion with the Red Sox for serving to him refine his method on the plate. Instead of continuous to hunt for offspeed stuff, Saltalamacchia and Shaw usually mentioned what kinds of pitches to sit down on and the way different variables — the rely, sport state of affairs and even the kind of pitcher — influences these selections.
The common conversations between the 2 had an enduring affect on Shaw.
“I mean, if you’re not the type of player that’s going to learn and take feedback, you’re not going to last in baseball very long,” Shaw mentioned Monday at Wrigley Field. “Regardless of the place you’re in faculty, summer time ball, minor leagues, main leagues, I’m positive that each single individual right here on the sphere right now has discovered from someone, getting suggestions and figuring it out as they go.
“You get to talk to someone who knows the game and has been around the game and that’s kind of all you’re really looking for as a baseball player is to talk to someone who loves talking about baseball, who knows baseball. Being able to talk to Jarrod, develop a friendship has been really unique and really cool.”
Saltalamacchia mentioned Shaw had the appropriate thought course of and famous there are occasions when sitting on delicate pitches might be useful. But Saltalamacchia, whose catching profession spanned 12 years within the majors, seen Shaw can be searching for these pitches in conditions that didn’t name for offspeed.
“Everything’s off a fastball approach,” Saltalamacchia mentioned. “I imply, you get to the massive leagues as a result of you may hit a fastball. Now you’re taking that fastball-to-the-gap method and also you’re fooled and also you’re slightly off steadiness and your arms are nonetheless again since you’re considering fastball, you may see it and also you’re nonetheless capable of drive the ball the opposite method or pull it down the road.
“What he does extremely well is he stays through the ball better than anyone I’ve seen at this level with a wood bat and he gets backspin. … So I knew he was capable of making that adjustment, having that approach of right-center. Hitters get in trouble when they recognize (offspeed) but they go in and out of the zone really quick and they roll over it and pull off. He was never that guy.”
Bourne supervisor Scott Landers thought Shaw’s at-bats continued to get higher because the Cape Cod season progressed, seeing the shortstop perceive and notice how his method wanted to regulate relying on the state of affairs.
The change to how Shaw attacked his at-bats didn’t damage his energy. He turned a greater all-around hitter and through his senior 12 months at Maryland produced a 20-20 season over the 62-game schedule, ending with 20 doubles, 24 residence runs and a 1.142 OPS.
“I mean, you don’t expect it out of his frame,” Landers mentioned to the Tribune of the 5-foot-11 Shaw. “It does look like it comes easy to him. It’s a violent swing.”
Landers referred to as Shaw a “Dustin Pedroia type” with energy that performs to all fields. Saltalamacchia spent three-plus seasons with Pedroia in Boston and believes Shaw possesses extra uncooked pop than the 2008 American League MVP, who additionally occurred to be Shaw’s favourite participant rising up as a Red Sox fan in Massachusetts.
“There’s definitely a good comparison there,” Saltalamacchia mentioned. “(Pedroia) took benefit of his environment and by no means took a break day mentally. Every single day he was able to go. I imply, pitchers out and in, he knew the opposite hitters out and in to the place he was capable of place himself. I feel that’s the place Matt must develop on the defensive facet of issues and being extra of an entire participant.
“But I know he’s also the type of kid that someone tells me he can’t do something, he’s going to prove them wrong.”
Shaw’s bat-to-ball expertise and hitter profile might have him on a quick observe to Wrigley, the place he visited for the primary time Monday as his signing turned official. He is aware of the timing of his big-league arrival isn’t his choice. Shaw’s efficiency will dictate when he places on the pinstripes, nonetheless, he isn’t frightened about any struggles he may face on his journey.
Shaw retains the idea of failure in perspective in a sport the place even one of the best, like Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, report an out in roughly 65% of their plate appearances.
“For me, obviously there’s a lot of different pressures that I don’t understand yet when it comes to the fans and the community and everything that I’ll eventually learn,” Shaw mentioned. “But when it comes to baseball itself, people are failing a lot more in the big leagues than they are in college. So for me, it’s a great opportunity to go and fail and see what you can make of it.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com