Chicago Cubs rookie Matt Shaw had an impressive game on Wednesday, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run and three runs scored. His standout performance put the New York Mets in a difficult position in the National League Wild Card race.
However, Shaw’s biggest statement didn’t come at the plate. It came days earlier, when Shaw chose to step away from the playoff chase to honor his slain friend, Charlie Kirk.
The 23-year-old third baseman missed Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, a close 1-0 loss, so he could attend Kirk’s memorial in Arizona. For Shaw, the decision wasn’t about politics. It was about faith, friendship, and respect for a man who had a profound impact on his life.
To Shaw, Kirk was a fellow Christian, a friend, and a diehard Cubs fan.
The two men even lived on the same block in Arizona, often talked baseball and faith, and would text each other after nearly every game this season, according to ABC 7.
When Kirk’s widow, Erika, personally invited Shaw to attend the memorial service, he didn’t hesitate.
“My connection with Charlie was through our faith. And that’s something that drives me every day, the reason why I’m able to do what I do every day, and that’s something I’m extremely thankful for,” Shaw told the Chicago Sun-Times before the Cubs game on Tuesday.
“I know without my faith and without the many blessings I’ve been given in my life, that I wouldn’t be here, be able to talk to you guys, able to help this team eventually go and win championships…That’s something I feel really, really blessed about, so whatever backlash comes is OK,” the rookie added.
Backlash did come from Mets announcer Gary Cohen, who called Shaw’s absence “weird,” suggesting that leaving a team in a playoff race for anything other than a family emergency was inappropriate.
“The thought of leaving your team in the middle of a race for any reason other than a family emergency really strikes me as weird,” Cohen said, straying from commenting on the live game.
Shaw was at bat and had no chance to respond to the announcer’s comments that seemed to have come out of “left field.”
Afterwards, Cohen’s comments sparked an online firestorm.
New York radio hosts Gregg Giannotti and Boomer Esiason torched the broadcaster, saying Shaw’s decision was entirely justified, per Fox News. “Gary Cohen’s got a problem with that because the Cubs are in a pennant race? Have we lost all touch with reality here?” Giannotti asked.
The MLB has reported that Shaw was given official permission from the Chicago Cubs to miss the game after he submitted a formal request to attend Kirk’s memorial service, which was quickly approved.
“I was very thankful for how the team responded. Allowing me to do that was really special of them… The whole team, having their support, was really important to me,” Shaw said.
The reality is simple: Shaw chose loyalty over optics and put his convictions above box scores.
Earlier this month, the Cubs announced that Shaw became the first MLB rookie in 2025 with 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases.