Cubs’ Matt Shaw defends missing team’s defeat to attend Charlie Kirk’s funeral

Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw said he has no regrets after missing a game with playoff implications to attend the funeral of Charlie Kirk.

Shaw missed the Cubs’ game at the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday to go to the funeral of the rightwing activist, which took place in Arizona. The Cubs lost the game 1-0. They are aiming to secure the top wildcard slot in the National League, which would give them home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Shaw’s absence was also a boost for the Reds, who are in a battle with the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks for the final wildcard spot in the NL.

Shaw was asked about his decision on Tuesday, before the Cubs’ game with the Mets. “Whatever backlash comes is OK,” Shaw said. “I feel strongly in my faith that was meant to be.”

Kirk’s widow, Erika, invited Shaw to the funeral and the infielder said he felt it was his duty to attend. Kirk was from the Chicago area and got to know Shaw when they lived in the same apartment complex in Arizona. Shaw said the pair bonded over their Christian faith.

The Cubs were not allowed to bring in a replacement to their roster for Shaw as he was ineligible for the bereavement list, which is reserved for players who have lost family members. The rookie said he had talked to his teammates and manager before making the decision to attend.

“I made sure everybody I talked to I had their support, that they knew why I was going, that I wasn’t leaving just to leave, that it was something that was really important to my faith,” Shaw told the Chicago Tribune.

The Cubs selected Shaw with the 13th overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft. He is batting .223 in his rookie season with 12 home runs and an OPS of .678. He was back in the Cubs lineup to face the Mets.