MESA, Ariz. — The best gauge for Matt Shaw’s readiness in the outfield is simply time.
More game action means getting reps that can’t be replicated with pregame fungo work. He knows he needs to experience the variety of plays that can happen in the corner outfield, one of which Shaw was challenged by four batters into the Chicago Cubs’ Cactus League game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday at Sloan Park.
Shaw tried to chase down a fly ball to the right-center-field gap that kept drifting away from him. The play should have been Pete Crow-Armstrong’s, but he couldn’t see the ball, forcing Shaw to attempt an outstretched running catch. Shaw couldn’t corral it, though, as the ball hit off his mitt and went for a double. Afterward, Shaw described playing the outfield as a learning process.
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“That’s a ball that he can’t see so normally without the sun, I think that’s his ball,” Shaw said. “I was a little more passive, just being like, OK, he can probably catch it. I think that was where the adjusting piece for me is, like, knowing that he is the best center fielder in baseball, but that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t be aggressive towards balls because he’ll communicate and he’ll call me off.
“So, that was helpful for me just to be like, OK, I’m going to be super aggressive to get the ball, but if he calls it I’ll let him take it.”
Manager Craig Counsell wants Shaw to keep getting those type of non-routine plays in the outfield, especially ones that require him to communicate in real time during the sequence with Crow-Armstrong.
“It’s a variable that they can have a conversation about and maybe improve a little bit and understand each other a little bit, so it’s a very good thing,” Counsell said.
Shaw has started two games in right this spring, logging 10 innings with one putout, one assist and one error.
“Right now, it’s just really try to get as many different reps as I can and show them I’m ready to play out there,” Shaw said.
Jonathon Long withdraws from World Baseball Classic
Cubs first baseman Jonathon Long lies on the ground after colliding with the Rangers’ Mark Canha during a Cactus League game at Sloan Park on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in Mesa, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
A left elbow sprain will prevent the Cubs prospect from playing for Chinese Taipei in the World Baseball Classic, which begins next week.
Long withdraw from the tournament Thursday due to the uncertainty of whether his elbow would recover well enough to play in the WBC. The 24-year-old first baseman is still a few days away from comfortably swinging a bat after a collision at first base Saturday when the Texas Rangers’ Mark Canha awkwardly hyperextended Long’s arm on his catch attempt.
“Fly across the world not knowing if I could swing a bat and then have to rehab with them versus being here, it just didn’t make sense, especially getting ready for a season,” Long said Thursday. “It’s more important to be fully healthy. … Obviously in the short term I want to go, but you’re more more inclined to push through something that we shouldn’t push through with such a strict timeline, so we’re going to take a step back and make sure it fully heals.”
Long hopes to be ready to play in a Cactus League game within the next 10 days. A nonroster invite in camp, Long has a more viable path to making the opening-day roster on the Cubs bench following veteran infielder Tyler Austin’s right knee surgery Tuesday that will sideline him for months. Long isn’t worrying about the possibility he could break camp with the team, saying he only wants to focus on what he can control.
Long’s offensive production in the minors clearly has him in play to help the Cubs this year in some capacity.
“He’s just been the kind of player that’s hit his way to the situation that he’s in right now,” Counsell said. “Very consistent at-bats, part of the skill set that stands out. He’s just a good all-around hitter.”
Matthew Boyd makes last spring start ahead of WBC
Boyd logged a clean final tuneup Thursday before he leaves camp to join Team USA for the WBC.
The left-hander tossed three perfect innings and struck out three against the Los Angeles Angels. He was pleased with how his stuff felt, besides the couple of curveballs he threw. Boyd is lined up to pitch in USA’s exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday, keeping him on his typical five-day schedule. He isn’t sure yet when he will throw in the WBC but plans to maintain the same throwing schedule as he continues to build up for the season.
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If the U.S. advances out of pool play, it’s not clear yet when or how Boyd might be used in the elimination rounds, though he could be utilized in a piggyback setup. Team USA manager Mark DeRosa and pitching coach Andy Petitte have been in contact with Counsell and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy to create a plan so Boyd gets to where he needs to be ready for the regular season while away from the Cubs.
“I’m getting treated as a starter, and there’s the pitch count so you’re going to need multiple starters again with how the pitch-count rules are throughout the first round,” Boyd said. “I’m not someone to count their eggs before they hatch. We’ve got to get there, and I know that will work itself out.”