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CubsMatt Shaw Defends Missing Game to Attend Charlie Kirk Memorial

Shaw says he attended at Erika Kirk’s invitation with team approval, leaving Chicago without a roster replacement under MLB rules.

Overview

  • Addressing reporters Tuesday, the rookie called the decision important to his Christian faith and said he had no regrets.
  • He said he consulted manager Craig Counsell, president Jed Hoyer and several veterans before traveling to Arizona.
  • Because Charlie Kirk was not immediate family, bereavement-list rules did not apply, so the Cubs played a man short in Sunday’s 1-0 loss at Cincinnati.
  • Shaw described meeting Kirk while living in the same Arizona apartment complex, noted their August photo at Wrigley Field, and cited frequent supportive texts after games.
  • Public reaction included on-air questions from SNY’s Gary Cohen about leaving during a playoff race, but Shaw said he is “not concerned at all” about potential backlash.