October 28, 2024

By Tyson Shushkewich

Canadian Baseball Network

Heading into the 2024 season, Sam Shaw was excited for the opportunity that lay ahead.

Selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2023 MLB draft, Shaw (Victoria, B.C.) had a cup of coffee in Rookie League ball after the draft before gearing up for his first full professional season.

“I didn’t really know what to expect heading into the season,” said Shaw, speaking to the Canadian Baseball Network. “I had talked to some other guys around the clubhouse early into the offseason but I went into this past season looking to get a gauge of what was expected and I think the few games I got into during the 2023 season helped set the tone for what was lying ahead this year.”

Shaw reported to Dunedin following the draft and went through the medical exams and formalities of signing his contract before participating in mini-camps with the newest draftees then joining the Blue Jays Florida Complex League (FCL) squad. He would go 6-for-29 with four runs and 10 walks and .701 OPS in nine games to finish out the season.

But the 2024 season was going to be a new experience for Shaw. He entered the new year with a new set of goals as he continued to navigate the pressures and expectations that come with being a professional baseball player while still a teenager.

“I was back down in Florida in February for early spring training and I was able to practice and train with guys who spent the majority of last year in double-A and triple-A,” said Shaw. “I gained a lot of experience and knowledge just being around them, which helped a lot going into proper Spring Training and the new year. I played a month of extended Spring Training before the start of the Rookie Ball season and once the season was over, I stayed ready for extended camps and participated in a mini-camp in Florida before returning home.”

This season with the FCL Blue Jays, Shaw posted a .220/.361/.304 slash line in 51 games. He collected six doubles, one triple, and two home runs. His first pro home run came in his second game against the FCL Phillies squad. Working in the leadoff spot, Shaw deposited a ball over the right field fence on an 0-1 count in the fifth inning for a two-run homer.

“It’s funny how these accolades work because while this was the first recorded home run of my career, I had four the previous month in extended ball that I guess technically don’t count,” said Shaw. “I was really seeing the ball well out of the gate and it’s obviously a special moment to get that first home run but it’s also amusing to know that my fifth home run is technically my first. That homer against the Phillies just scraped over the wall but I celebrated hard, I definitely had a bat flip in there to celebrate the moment.”

Shaw also finished the year with more walks (35) than strikeouts (21) while also adding 10 stolen bases. Plate discipline is something Shaw prides himself on and it’s an attribute that he continues to try and carry over from his high school and travel ball days into this next chapter of his career.

“When I step into the batter’s box, I always have that mentality to look for the right pitch to hit and do damage on and leaving pitches that are not in my wheelhouse,” said Shaw. “It’s something I keep in the back of my mind and an idea that I have heard from the staff and veteran guys like Joey Votto, who kept preaching about that mentality of picking the right pitches to swing at and doing your best every at-bat.”

Defensively, Shaw played multiple positions in Dunedin. The majority of his time was spent in left field, where he posted a .975 fielding percentage with three outfield assists through 296 2/3 innings, but he also spent time in centre field and right field throughout the campaign.

Playing in the outfield is nothing new for Shaw. He spent time in centre field following the draft and patrolled the outfield with various travel ball programs when he was growing up, but the grind and work behind the scenes that come with being a professional player was a new experience – one that the B.C. product was taking on head first as he continued on his quest to working his way up the minor league ladder.

“You are up early every day, getting up at 5:45 a.m. and heading to the field to get practice in and get ready for the game that lies ahead,” said Shaw, speaking about his schedule in the Florida Complex League.

“I go in every day with the thought process of ‘I am going to continue to work to get better and get the job done’ because you want to keep getting better, you want to keep advancing up the system. The nine or so games I experienced last season compared to the three months that I had in Florida this year were completely different experiences. We're talking about playing mid-day games in the tropical heat during the summer months while trying to keep the proper weight on and working on your metrics before games to compete every day. It will test you to the limit and you have to learn these things to develop routines and adapt to every situation. I love being tested every day. I think it brings out the best in me and I show up every day looking to get better and not only improve myself to keep moving forward but help my team win ballgames as well.”

With his first pro season officially in the books, Shaw is back on the island and home with family – working towards his second full pro season with the Blue Jays. While the future for Shaw is still to be determined, the 19-year-old continues to put the work in to be ready for whatever professional baseball and the Jays’ organization throws his way.

“I write down all the goals I want to accomplish heading into the offseason to hold myself accountable,” said Shaw. “There are the typical things like ‘run faster, get bigger and stronger, work on my nutrition and my time in the gym’ but at the end of the day, I want to make sure I enjoy these moments. When I step into these game situations or on the field, I want to put my best foot forward and continue working behind the scenes to be successful during actual game times. I will head back down to Florida for early Spring Training in the new year and wherever the game takes me, I will be ready.”