Bravehearts

Former Braveheart Matt Shaw Drafted 13th Overall By Chicago Cubs

Shaw becomes first Braveheart taken in the first round of MLB Draft

Worcester, MA - Former Worcester Bravehearts shortstop and Brimfield-native Matt Shaw was selected in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft on Sunday by the Chicago Cubs.

Shaw played two summers with the Bravehearts in 2020 and 2021, helping the Bravehearts to an FCBL Championship Series berth in 2020. The run was highlighted by an eight game stretch during which Shaw hit eight home runs, helping the team capture a first-place finish in the regular season standings. In just three weeks with the Bravehearts in 2020, Shaw made such an impact in the league, that he was named First Team All-Futures League at the end of the season.

Prior to his arrival at the Bravehearts, Shaw was playing for an independent baseball league. His original plan was to play American Legion Baseball, but that season was cancelled due to Covid-19. Shaw’s coach at the time, Sturbridge Legion Coach Jim Rosseel, called General Manager Dave Peterson and asked him to come check out a game to see his star shortstop. 

“Many people don’t know this, but I’m not actually the one that builds the roster,” said Bravehearts General Manager Dave Peterson. “[Shaw] was actually the first future Braveheart that I personally scouted in July of 2020.”

With Rosseel adamant that Shaw would help the team, he convinced Peterson to drive to Tantasqua Regional High School, where he filmed Shaw’s first two at-bats. In the first at-bat, Shaw struck out swinging. Peterson sent it to Head Coach Alex Dion anyway. Dion’s response was simple, but not the one Peterson expected. 

“That was the best strikeout I’ve ever seen.”

The next at-bat, Peterson took his phone out just in time to catch Shaw launch a baseball 400+ feet into the woods of Left Field. Dion’s next text was much less surprising.

“We’re going to sign him.”

A couple days later, Shaw left the independent baseball team and was in uniform with the Bravehearts where he was able to take live at-bats against college-level pitching before heading off to University of Maryland. 

Shaw becomes the 22nd former Worcester Braveheart to be drafted into the Major Leagues, and looks to join Guardians Starting Pitcher Aaron Civale and New York Mets Reliever Josh Walker as the third active Major Leaguer to play for the Bravehearts.