We’d had reports of some early Cubs draft pick signings, including top pick Matt Shaw at full slot, but now the Cubs have officially announced their first batch of signings. In total, the Cubs have officially signed 7 of their 20 draft picks, including rounds 1, 5 (college𒉰 catcher Michael Carico), 6 (high school outfielder Alfonsin Rosario), 8 (college outfielder Brett Bateman), 9 (college first baseman Jonathon Long), 10 (juco righty Luis Martinez-Gomez), and 18 (college third baseman Brian Kalmer).
Much more on the guys in the top 10 rounds fr༺om Brya𒅌n here, if you missed it. The Cubs still have over a week to wrap up th🐼e rest of their signings, and I expect the Cubs to sign close to all 20 picks, if not all 20.
From the team’s official announcement:
The Chicago Cubs today announced they have agreed to terms with seven players from the 2023 First-Year Player Draft, including first-round selection (13th overall) infielder Matt Shaw from the University of Maryland. The Cubs have agreed to terms🌃 with six of their first 10 selections🎉 from the draft. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Along with Sha🅺w, the Cubs have agreed to terms with catcher Michael Carico (fifth round), outfielder Alfonsin Rosario (sixth round), outfielder Brett Bateman (eighth round), first baseman Jonathon Long (ninth round), right-handed pitcher Luis Martinez-Gomez (10th round) and third baseman Brian Kalmer (18tওh round).
Shaw, 21, batted .341 (90-for-264) with 20 doubles, one triple, 24 home runs, 69 RBI, a .445 on-base percentage and a 1.142 OPS in 62 games for the University of Maryland in 2023. He was named the Brooks Wallace Award winner, honoring the nation’s top collegiate shortstop, as well as the Big Ten Player of the Year, leading the Terps to the
Big Ten title.In 167 games across three seasons with t✨he Terps, the five-foot 11-inch, 185-pound Shaw batted .320 (222-for-693) with 47 doubles, two triples, 53 home runs, 166 RBI and a 1.036 OPS. In 2022 and 2023, 💜he recorded back-to-back 20-plus home run seasons (22 in 2022, 24 in 2023). Shaw is a two-time All-Big Ten selection and was named a Gold Spikes Award semifinalist in 2023.
Prior to his♉ junior year, Shaw was named the Cape Cod League Most Valuable Player, after slashing .360/.432/.574 with 10 doubles, two triples, five home runs and 19 RBI in 36 games, leading the Bourne Braves to the league championship.
Carico, 20, batted .350 (28-for-80) with six doubles, seven home runs and 18 RBI, but was♔ limited to 21 games with Davidson in 2023. During the 2022 campaign, Carico led the nation with a .559 on-base percentage, while going 80-for-197 (.406) with 21 doubles, one triple, 21 home runs and 57 RBI. Following the season, he was named a Second Team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association, Collegiate Baseball and D1Baseball.com.
Both Shaw and Carico wer🦹e recommended by area scout Billy Swoope.
