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Matt Shaw, 3B, Cubs: After a little more than a month in the minors, the Cubs brought Shaw back to the majors to one again be the team’s third baseman. He went 2-for-4 with a double and his first career steal in an 8-7 loss to the Marlins. Shaw was demoted to Triple-A Iowa on April 15 after he hit .172/.294/.241 in 18 games. But Shaw quickly regained his confidence in Triple-A. He hit .286/.409/.560 in 24 games with the I-Cubs. He has been especially hot recently, as he had a pair of two home run games on last Thursday and Friday.

Quinn Mathews, LHP, Cardinals: Shoulder soreness forced Mathews to the injured list on April 14. After a month of working his way back into form, Mathews made his first rehab start in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League yesterday. The 24-year-old went two innings, allowed one hit and struck out four. It was a positive first step for the 2024 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, who was uncharacteristically wild—15 walks in 10.1 innings—in his first three Triple-A Memphis starts.

Eduardo Quintero, OF, Dodgers: Quintero hit .429 in five games against Low-A Inland Empire last week, punctuating an impressive May performance. The 19-year-old Dodgers center fielder has collected a hit in every game this month, batting .387/.500/.726 with four home runs, five doubles, two triples and six stolen bases. He has 13 walks and 16 strikeouts in that span. Quintero has racked up 45 total bases in May, one off the overall lead compiled by 27-year-old veteran Dominic Canzone at Triple-A Tacoma.

Drake Baldwin, C, Braves: Life can be tough for rookie catchers in the big leagues, but the 24-year-old Braves backstop is making it look easy. Baldwin has hit .531 with an .875 slugging percentage in May, which is good for a 1.406 OPS that leads all batters with at least 30 plate appearances. While he had not drawn a walk, he had also struck out just three times. Baldwin was earning a near equal share of playing time as veteran catcher Sean Murphy while Atlanta has gone 17-10 this month to get back into the National League East division race.

Walker Martin, SS, Giants: Martin set the record for home runs by a Colorado high school player in 2023, the year the Giants drafted him in the second round and signed him for back-of-the-first-round money. His pro debut last year was a disaster. He hit .218 with a 41% strikeout rate at stops in the Arizona Complex League and with Low-A San Jose. Martin returned to San Jose this year and has gotten his career on track with a hot month of May. His six home runs this month are second-most for any minor leaguer, while he has hit .259/.371/.638 with a 30% strikeout rate through 15 games in May.

Editor’s Picks

MLB Will Test Checked-Swing Challenges: The league plans to implement the same 45-degree angle it tested previously in the Arizona Fall League, this time in the Florida State League. Read more…

Hot Sheet Chat: We’re answering your questions at 2 p.m. ET! Read more…

Baseball America Helium Pick Of The Day

Each day, we’ll pick a prospect that has our attention.

Stharlin Torres, RHP, Reds: The domestic complex leagues are in full swing, and the annual pop-up prospects are starting to make themselves known. Early word from the desert is that the Reds have a stable of fireballers flying under the radar. One pitcher who fits that description in Torres, who fronts a three-pitch mix with a riding fastball that sits in the 94-97 mph range. He backs it with a changeup and a slider. So far, the 18-year-old Torres has punched out 13 hitters and issued just one walk over seven innings. He fanned 51 against 13 walks a year ago in the Dominican Summer League.

Quick Hits

Prospect news and notes from around baseball…

• Marlins SS Starlyn Caba is dealing with a sprained left thumb, according to Ely Sussman.

• Marlins C Agustin Ramirez continued his impressive start to his big league career, hitting his sixth homer in 23 games last night. He owns a .930 OPS for the Marlins through 95 plate appearances.

• A’s righty J.T. Ginn graduated from prospect status last night after throwing four innings in a loss.

• Dodgers ACL shortstop Emil Morales went for 3-for-5 with a homer and a double.

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