Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw missed Sunday’s 1-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, reportedly, to attend conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk’s memorial service in Arizona.
The Athletic reported the reasoning behind Shaw’s absence, citing one league source. Daily Mail has reached out to Cubs spokespeople for confirmation.
Sunday’s defeat wasn’t too consequential for Chicago. The Cubs have already clinched a playoff berth and are unlikely to catch the league-best Milwaukee Brewers for the NL Central lead by the end of the season.
Earlier, Chicago manager Craig Counsell explained Shaw’s absence to reporters by saying the infielder was at a friend’s funeral.
‘Matt Shaw was unavailable today,’ Counsell said after the loss in Cincinnati. ‘He attended the funeral of a friend.’
The extent of Shaw’s relationship with Kirk is a bit unclear.
Charlie Kirk (center) is flanked by Cubs infielders Matt Shaw (left) and Michael Busch (right)
Charlie’s widow Erika Kirk joins President Donald Trump onstage during Sunday’s service
Kirk, a passionate Chicago Cubs fan, is pictured with his wife and daughter at Wrigley
The 23-year-old third baseman from Western Massachusetts previously missed the Cubs’ September 10 game due to what the team described as ‘personal reasons.’ Kirk was shot to death during a speech in Orem, Utah on September 10.
Weeks prior to his murder, Kirk actually posted a picture of himself at Chicago’s Wrigley Field alongside Shaw and teammate Michael Busch.
The post drew some negative reactions from baseball enthusiasts at the time.
‘Dislike the Cubs even more!’ wrote one baseball fan.
‘Hopefully most cubs fans have the decency to flip you off,’ another added.
Kirk was known to be a diehard Cubs fan after growing up in the Chicago suburb of Prospect Heights.
Shaw has endured an up-and-down rookie season in Chicago. The former first-round draft pick out of Maryland is hitting .223 with 12 home runs for the Cubs, who sit at 88-67.
