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Shaw has been out since late June with a hand strain. Now that he’s back, we have to wonder how the Cubs are going to split playing time between Shaw and Pedro Ramirez. Ramirez has been really solid so far this season, but the Cubs may look to get Shaw, their former top prospect, a few starts a week in the final month of the season. That could cannibalize both of their fantasy values.

There hasn’t really been any indication from Chicago that they’re going to rush Shaw back to the majors with Pedro Ramírez handling second base on an everyday basis. He’s been on a rehab assignment since mid-August after missing time with a hand strain that put him on the injured list back in late June.

Shaw figures to be in the mix for starts between second and third base, along with rookie Pedro Ramírez, while shortstop Dansby Swanson is on the injured list with an oblique strain for the next month. The 24-year-old former top prospect has been on the injured list with a hand strain since late June. He should make it back to Chicago at some point before the end of August.

Shaw, on the IL since June 29 with a hand strain, has been hitting of a Trajekt machine. It doesn’t seem likely that he’ll have a particularly significant role after joining the Cubs. Pedro Ramírez has been a modest upgrade as an infield backup, and the Cubs acquired Tyrone Taylor at the deadline as an additional outfield option versus lefties.

Shaw’s hand sprain is getting better, but he’s still having some issue while swinging a bat. Fortunately, the Cubs haven’t lost anything while giving his at-bats to Pedro Ramírez and Michael Conforto.

Shaw was placed on the injured list at the end of June with a sprained left hand, and the injury will keep him out for at least another two weeks. The 24-year-old should return to utility role with the Cubs after hitting .246/.322/.415 before that injury.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters Shaw is dealing with a mild left hand sprain and could begin swinging a bat later this week. The 24-year-old former top prospect has been unable to carve out a permanent everyday role at the highest level and has hit .246/.322/.415 with four homers and four stelas in just 147 plate appearances over 56 games this season.

Shaw returns to Chicago’s outfield mix following a nearly three-week stint on the injured list with back tightness. The 24-year-old former top prospect simply hasn’t shown enough at the plate to envision an everyday role at the highest level, but the opportunity is certainly there with Moisés Ballesteros scuffling.

Shaw has been out with back tightness since May 22nd and formally began his rehab assignment at Triple-A on June 3rd. He will likely return to his super utility role, which makes it hard to roster him in fantasy leagues.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters earlier thsi week that Shaw was likely to remain at Triple-A through the weekend to get a consistent stretch of at-bats before returning to Chicago. The 24-year-old former top prospect has been out with back tightness since May 22. There’s a path to consistent at-bats with Moisés Ballesteros stuck in an extended cold stretch at the dish.

Shaw landed on the injured list with mid-back tightness on May 22nd. He’s already back playing center field in Triple-A, which makes it possible he could return to the Cubs by the end of the week.

Back tightness can be a tricky thing for hitters, given all the torque in swinging. While there’s no timeline yet for Shaw’s return, it is likely going to be a few weeks. This will give top prospect Pedro Ramirez a chance to establish himself as a worthwhile player to have on the active roster.

Shaw’s homer was a 351-footer barely over a leaping Nick Castellanos in left field. His first hit was a bunt single, with the Cubs taking advantage of the fact that it was Miguel Andujar and not Manny Machado at third. That ended up being well-timed, as Pete Crow-Armstrong followed it with a homer. Shaw’s exit velocity numbers are still pretty bad and his bat speed has dropped from last year, but he’s hitting .301/.342/.507 through 80 plate appearances. It’s just hard to see that leading to much playing time against righties while everyone is healthy for the Cubs.

It would be unfair to label Shaw’s second round-tripper of the season as a garbage time dinger, but it came with two outs in the ninth inning of a three-run ballgame. The 24-year-old former top prospect took Rays stopper Bryan Baker deep with a fly ball down the left-field line that traveled just 366 feet. He figures to transition to a bench role once Seiya Suzuki (knee) returns from the injured list later this week.

The homer was just 95.2 mph off the bat, but fortunately, he went the other way with it and got a little assist from the wind at Progressive Field. He’s 5-for-23 in eight games while helping to fill in for Seiya Suzuki, and while he should be in line for less playing time, he’ll almost certainly keep his roster spot after Suzuki returns.

Despite the Nationals throwing a right-handed pitcher, it will be Shaw in right field and not Michael Conforto. Shaw has struggled with his outfield defense this spring, so he may not have a long leash in the outfield, but his offensive production improved drastically in the second half of last season and carries over into spring training. Playing time in Chicago remains a mystery when Seiya Suzuki (knee) is healthy, but Shaw is worth adding in case his super utility role leads to three to four starts per week. The rest of the Cubs’ lineup is Michal Busch 1B, Alex Bregman 3B, Ian Happ LF, Pete Crow-Armstrong CF, Nico Hoerner 2B, Carson Kelly C, Moises Ballesteros DH, Dansby Swanson SS, and Matt Shaw RF.

After striking out in his first at-bat, Shaw worked a walk to open the third inning before being erased on a double play. He drew another walk in the sixth inning, swiped second base and advanced to third on an error, but the Cubs were unable to cash him in from there. The 24-year-old is having a strong spring — hitting .323 (10-for-31) with a homer, two RBI and five stolen bases in 38 plate appearances. His fantasy value will ultimately come down to how much playing time he sees in his super utility role.

Shaw led off the game with a single but wound up getting stranded at third base. He then led off the sixth inning with a single and stole second base, but he was then picked off by Marco Gonzales. The versatile 24-year-old played both center field and right field during this game and looks likely to begin the season in a super utility role for the Cubs. His speed makes him an intriguing fantasy option if he sees regular at-bats.

Shaw’s path to regular at-bats in Chicago moving forward will be in a versatile super-utility role following the club’s decision to sign third baseman Alex Bregman an keep speedy second baseman Nico Hoerner. The 24-year-old former top prospect was a colossal fantasy disappointment last season but he’s talented enough to thrive in a more limited role and rebuild some of his long-term value.

Hoyer’s remarks came during Alex Bregman’s introductory press conference when discussing Shaw’s role with the club moving forward. The 24-year-old top prospect was a significant disappointment last year in his first taste of the majors, and he’s likely to transition to a versatile multi-position moving forward, unless the Cubs decide to trade second baseman Nico Hoerner. The additional defensive versatility slightly increases his appeal as a bench option in deeper fantasy leagues but he needs to display some growth in the plate skills department before he’s a viable mixed-league option in the future.