Cubs' Matt Shaw gets first spring-training start in right field: 'A lot of fun'

MESA, Ariz. — Cubs right fielder Matt Shaw drop-stepped to his right, then switched back to his left to camp under a fly ball.

That catch in the fourth inning was essentially the only action Shaw got in the Cubs’ 3-2 loss Saturday to the Rangers. He also picked up a ground-ball single that deflected off the end of diving Cubs second baseman James Triantos’ glove and threw it in.

“Definitely a lot of fun,” Shaw said. “Listening to [center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong]; he’s guiding me along.”

Shaw’s first spring-training game in the outfield wasn’t much of a test. But he’ll get more opportunities as he continues to learn the position.

“You want the tougher plays, you want the plays that don’t happen as much,” manager Craig Counsell said Saturday morning. “The fly ball that goes straight up and then he catches it, and then we all [say], ‘Oh, he can play right field,’ that tells us nothing.

“We’re looking for more than that. So you want action, you want weird plays. Those are the experiences that make you better and cause growth. And the best way to do it is just have innings out there.”

Shaw, who’s making the transition this year from third base to a utility role, has had similar conversations with Counsell. The Cubs plan to play Shaw all over, but outfield will be a focus in spring because he has had fewer game reps there.

“It feels like I’m kind of a kid again, running around, catching balls, diving and stuff,” Shaw said earlier this spring.

Shaw played outfield growing up; his most recent experience came five years ago in college summer ball.

“The biggest challenge is, now that I’m going to be playing outfield, playing second, playing third, just balancing all of that,” Shaw said, “making sure I can stay healthy and stay in good shape.”

In addition to the coaching staff, left fielder Ian Happ is someone Shaw can lean on for advice as he finds that balance. Happ came up as a utility player before finding a home in the outfield.

“I’m sure he’ll be super helpful,” Shaw said. “He already has been.”

Shaw told the story of how he reached out to Happ about whether he should get a 14½-inch outfielder’s glove. The problem is, manufacturers don’t make baseball gloves that big, which Happ made sure to let him know. Anything longer than 13 inches is banned in the MLB rule book.

“It’s the little things, you know?” Happ said.

He was joking, but the quip actually summed up Happ’s real advice for juggling multiple positions. Early in his career, Happ leaned on super-utility player Ben Zobrist for guidance.

“You want to go and do a bunch of things in the outfield and be the best outfielder you can be,” Happ said. “But Ben Zobrist was -really good with me about, it’s not necessarily about making the flashy plays, it’s about doing all the little things.”

Happ plans to have similar conversations with Shaw this spring.

Shaw can drill down on technique in practice. But there are some elements to outfield defense — communication, situations and navigating the wall — that can’t be fully replicated in that setting.

“True, true game speed has to happen in-game,” Counsell said.

Once Shaw gets comfortable playing the outfield in spring training, the next challenge will be playing right at Wrigley Field.

“Be careful with the wind,” right fielder Seiya Suzuki said when asked about what his advice would be. “And be careful about the wall next to the foul line; it’s dangerous.”