Chicago Cubs infielder Matt Shaw was reportedly absent from the team on Sunday as they faced the Cincinnati Reds to attend Charlie Kirk’s memorial service in Arizona, according to multiple reports. The Cubs did not officially confirm Shaw’s absence, but the Chicago Sun-Times reported that manager Craig Counsell mentioned to the media that Shaw was attending a funeral for a friend. This comes after earlier reports indicated that Shaw had been scratched from the lineup on Sept. 10, the day Kirk was assassinated on the campus of Utah Valley University, for personal reasons. He later entered the game as a pinch hitter, as noted by The Athletic.
Charlie Kirk’s memorial service attracted more than 90,000 attendees at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. This was one of the largest gatherings to honor the conservative influencer, who was known for his political activism and media presence. The memorial service was held in the wake of Kirk’s tragic assassination, which shocked the public and sparked widespread discussions about political violence and gun control in the United States.
The Cubs, along with other MLB teams, paid tribute to Kirk by flying their flag at half-staff at Wrig,