Chicago Cubs fans now know why their team was without rookie infielder Matt Shaw on Sunday.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters after a 1-0 loss to the Reds that Shaw was “unavailable” for the series finale because he was “attending the funeral of a friend.”

According to reports from The Athletic , that funeral was Charlie Kirk’s memorial service in Arizona. Kirk was assassinated less than two weeks ago during an event on the campus of Utah Valley University.

His service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale was attended by more than 90,000 people, including President Donald Trump, his entire cabinet. First Lady Melania Trump and a slew of other notables such as Elon Musk.

Shaw, a regular for the Cubs batting .223 with 12 home runs and 42 RBI, was among the crowd.

It’s unclear

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