Cubs first baseman Matt Mervis at Sloan Park on March 1, 2023. (E. Jason Wambsgans, E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tri)
The Chicago Cubs are adding some thump to their lineup.
First baseman Matt Mervis has been called up from Triple-A Iowa, sources confirmed to the Tribune. He will join the team Friday for the series opener against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field.
A strong 2022 minor-league season positioned Mervis, 25, for this opportunity. He smashed his way through the Cubs’ minor-league system last year, advancing through three levels from High-A South Bend to Iowa by the end of the season.
Mervis signed with the Cubs as an undrafted free agent in 2020 when the draft was only five rounds because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A two-way player out of Duke, Mervis has shown a keen eye and patient approach, cutting down on his strikeouts each time he moved up to the next affiliate leading to a 16.1 BB% and 17 K% with Iowa this year. He improved in both areas between his 57-game stint in Iowa last season and the month he spent at Triple A to open the year by reducing his strikeout rate 2.4% and boosting his walk rate by 5.7%.
The Cubs hope those trends continue at the big-league level.
“I found in my experiences that players kind of hit you over the head with it over time, and then you start having conversations they get into the picture, and then you find yourself having a conversation every day, and at some point the answer becomes relatively obvious,” general manager Carter Hawkins said this week. “Obviously some guys down in Triple A right now are really hard to ignore, so we’re talking about them every day and what’s best for them and what’s best for the Cubs.”
The Cubs determined the time is right for both sides. Mervis should get ample opportunities as a first baseman or designated hitter, especially against right-handers. His playing time likely will come at the expense of the veteran Eric Hosmer, who entered Thursday hitting .250 with a .294 on-base percentage and 78 OPS+ in 26 games.
In 24 games with Iowa, Mervis produced a .286/.402/.560 slash line with six home runs, seven doubles and 27 RBIs.
“Every day is a new day. It’s a new opportunity,” Mervis said during spring training. “And every day you’ve got to go out there and earn it and prove it.”
Mervis, rated the organization’s No. 4 prospect by Baseball America and No. 6 by MLB.com, shouldn’t be viewed as the savior for an offense that has scuffled the last two weeks. But the potential he brings creates upside the Cubs aren’t getting right now from their left-handed first-base/DH options in Hosmer and Edwin Ríos.
Catch up on other Cubs prospects
- As Ben Brown earns a promotion to Triple A, their organizational starting pitching depth is being tested
- Miguel Amaya’s injury-plagued path finally leads to his 1st call-up. ‘It hasn’t been easy,’ the catching prospect says.
- Cubs minor-league report: Caleb Kilian makes his MLB season debut and Pete Crow-Armstrong continues to wow
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Originally published at Tribune News Service