MESA, Ariz. — Embroidered up the thumb of Matt Shaw’s glove Wednesday, as he tried his hand at first base, was the name “Carson Kelly.”
First base wasn’t originally in the plans as Shaw entered Cubs camp in a utility role. But when backup first baseman Tyler Austin had a knee operation in late February, Shaw went to find a first baseman’s glove to add to his growing collection.
“They found one in the back for me,” Shaw said.
Shaw isn’t expected to be the primary backup option at the position, behind everyday first baseman Michael Busch. Catcher Miguel Amaya has experience at first base. Kelly is expected to use his own first baseman’s glove at some point this spring.
This is the time, however, for teams to work out their contingency plans and get players applicable experience. Shaw hadn’t ever played first base in a game before Wednesday.
“It could take a month to get as much action and as many decisions as he had [Wednesday] in the game,” manager Craig Counsell said Thursday morning. “So I thought it was a great day for Matt. Couldn’t have gone any better in terms of having to make hard plays. Perfect. We couldn’t ask the team to hit it to him better.”
Shaw knew that game reps were going to be necessary to iron out communication with second baseman Nico Hoerrner and get a feel for how far he should range to his right. Then on Wednesday, the Royals hit two ground balls at that gap.
“We were laughing about it,” Shaw said. “Two ‘tweeners. Two balls already, tough balls, but they were pretty routine for both of us, so that was good.”
Shaw also had a high chopper hit to him that he misplayed. But, in the vein of Counsell hoping for mistakes to expedite development, Shaw quickly realized he should have dropped back to field the long hop instead of stepping into it like a third baseman.
“Still trying to make the right read and not necessarily change too much,” he said, “but know if there’s kind of an in-between ball, I probably have more time.”
First base was the fifth position Shaw has played this spring.
“I respect what he’s doing this spring,” Counsell said. “It hasn’t been easy, for sure. But I’d rather make it hard right now than go into the season with at least some experience at all these things.”
Roster moves
The Cubs made their second round of camp cuts on Thursday, reducing the spring training roster to 46 players.
The Cubs optioned outfielder Justin Dean and left-handed relievers Luke Little and Ryan Rolison to Triple-A. And they returned right-hander Vince Velasquez, outfielder Brett Bateman and catchers Ariel Armas and Casey Opitz to minor-league camp.
Amaya returns
Amaya and non-roster invitee catcher Christian Bethancourt returned to camp on Thursday after Team Panama was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic in pool play.
“It was really fun, for sure,” Amaya said. “And to be there for my country and represent it is always going to be an honor.”
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