Overview

• Shaw said he attended the Glendale memorial at Erika Kirk’s invitation, citing a personal friendship rooted in shared faith after meeting Charlie Kirk while living in the same Arizona complex.
• The rookie infielder said he consulted president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, manager Craig Counsell, and several veterans, and the team signed off since the absence did not qualify for MLB’s bereavement list.
• His absence coincided with a 1-0 loss to the Reds in Cincinnati during the late-season race, leaving Chicago without a roster replacement for that game.
• Mets play-by-play voice Gary Cohen called the choice "weird" on air and analyst Todd Zeile labeled it "unprecedented," drawing immediate criticism from fans and radio host Gregg Giannotti.
• Kirk was fatally shot on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University; the Glendale service drew high-profile attendees including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk, and a suspect has been charged with aggravated murder.