IN FOCUS: GIANTS
Chris Shaw says there’s a learning curve associated with moving from the outfield to first base. Based on the results, he is clearly a good student.
The San Jose first baseman is proving to be a solid infielder — one of the best in the Class A California League.
Shaw, who played outfield at Boston College before the San Francisco Giants made him the 31st overall selection in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, ranked tops among first basemen in the Cal League with a .995 fielding percentage.
Shaw has played first base in high school and in summer tournaments but made the switch to the outfield in college. San Francisco moved him to first base last season when he played in the short-season Northwest League, and he responded by posting a .973 fielding percentage, committing eight errors in 295 total chances.
“I think playing first base in high school could be summed up pretty easily as far as defensive skills are concerned,” said Shaw, who was hitting .284 with 14 homers and 48 RBI through 65 Cal League games. “It’s a huge jump between being a solid high school or college infielder and making the jump to pro ball. There are definitely a lot of new things you have to learn.
“One of the bigger things I had trouble adjusting is the arm slot of an infielder. I’m used to the long arm action in the outfield. You come into the infield and now you try to be quicker and short with your stuff. You have to get used to being quick and accurate. From where I was to where I am at now, I think I have made a pretty solid
transition, and I feel good about where I am defensively.”
Shaw always seems to do well defensively. The Massachusetts native was a standout defenseman on his high school hockey team and its captain during his junior and senior seasons.
Shaw says he liked playing hockey more than baseball when growing up but made a decision early on that he would hang up the skates when the time came to choose between the sports.
“Baseball had better opportunities,” Shaw said. “After my freshman year I stopped playing the showcase circuit and made it known I was pursuing baseball. I miss it a lot, but I never regretted my decision.”
Shaw still gets out on the ice to skate and shoot around with his friends when he’s home during the offseason but it’s nothing competitive. He says the Giants wouldn’t be “too thrilled” if he joined a men’s league, so he simply does it for fun.
His decision to drop hockey was just one of several difficult choices he had to make as a teenager. Shaw was drafted out of high school in the 26th round by the New York Mets in 2012. He opted for college, turning down the chance to play professionally and earn some money. He couldn’t be happier with his decision.
“I’m 22 and I’ve gone to school for three years, and I matured at school so that was definitely an advantage,” said Shaw, who studied leadership management in BC’s business school. “I considered signing a contract coming out of high school. But the realization is that I was an 18-year-old kid who didn’t know anything about the world outside of high school. Going to school enlightened me as to what the world is like. It paid dividends and allowed me to adjust quicker on my own and to the rigors of minor league ball.”