Matt Shaw wasnât in the lineup Sunday as the Chicago Cubs faced off against the Cincinnati Reds â and it wasnât for an injury, rest day, or roster shuffle.
It was something much deeper.
The 23-year-old infielder was in Arizona, attending the memorial service for Charlie Kirk â the conservative commentator and Turning Point USA founder who was assassinated earlier this month. While the Cubs didnât officially confirm Shawâs attendance, manager Craig Counsell told reporters simply, âMatt Shaw was unavailable today. He attended the funeral of a friend.â
That friend? A man whose death has sent shockwaves far beyond politics.
More than 90,000 people filled State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday to honor Charlie Kirk. The event drew not only major conservative leaders and political figures â including President Donald Trump â but also celebrities, athletes, and thousands of everyday Americans who came to pay their respects.
The atmosphere was emotional, and for many, unforgettable.
Photos of Shaw and Kirk standing together at Wrigley Field alongside teammate Michael Busch were posted just last month. According to The Athletic, Shaw had also been scratched from the Cubs lineup on September 10 â the day Kirk was killed on the campus of Utah Valley University â for what were called âpersonal reasons.â He did later appear in the game as a pinch hitter.
Now, itâs clear just how personal those reasons may have been.
Kirkâs death has led to tributes across Major League Baseball. At Wrigley Field, a pre-game message was read aloud, calling for an end to âall political violence.â The statement urged unity and asked Americans to come together to âstrengthen our nationâ and return to civil discourse.
The flag flew at half-staff in accordance with a proclamation from President Trump, and the New York Yankees also held a moment of tribute at Yankee Stadium.
This wasnât a typical baseball weekend.
For a sport that often steers clear of political statements, the reaction to Kirkâs assassination has been anything but quiet. Teams, players, and fans across the country have taken a moment to recognize not just the tragedy, but the broader feeling many are sharing: something is broken, and itâs costing lives.
The Cubs fell to the Reds 1-0 in Sundayâs game, but with a playoff spot already locked in, the bigger story was unfolding off the field.
Matt Shaw wasnât just missing a game. He was honoring a life.
And through his quiet absence, he may have said more than a press release ever could.