Cubs Are Finally Calling Up Matt Mervis
About damn time.
The Chicago Cubs are calling up first base prospect Matt Mervis. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Mervis will join the Cubs in Chicago for the start of their weekend series against the Miami Marlins.
Better late than never.
The shit-show that was the ninth inning had to be the final straw for the Cubs. David Ross had Eric Hosmer, who was the designated hitter, put down a sac bunt with runners at first and second and no one out, trailing the game 2-1. Hosmer’s bunt nearly ended in a double play, but ultimately it still left the Nationals an opening with runners at the corners and Patrick Wisdom grounded into a double play to end the game.
There is no chance in hell the Cubs could continue with guys like Hosmer and Edwin Ríos on the roster. Hosmer just hasn’t been good and can’t be trusted to not hit the ball on the ground in that situation, while Ríos has a total of 20 at-bats in a month.
Now, this isn’t to say that Mervis should be viewed as the savior either. He’s still a rookie, who is going to be facing MLB pitching for the first time. However, at this point it’s clear that whatever the Cubs have at 1B/DH simply is not getting the job done. Plus, another added factor is that the Cubs should want as much info on Mervis at the major league level as they can get.
Who knows, maybe Mervis is overmatched against MLB pitching, but at least you know that sooner rather than later, when you find yourself in a spot where you desperately need help on offense. Oh and also, there’s the other scenario in which Mervis does actually turn out to be decent to pretty good. You already know what these other guys are on your roster. Find out what you have in Mervis.
Heading into Thursday’s series finale against the Washington Nationals, the Cubs had poor production from their first basemen and designated hitters. And that’s even with Trey Mancini heating up in the last two weeks.
The Cubs have generated an 85 wRC+ from their first basemen, ranking 24th in MLB. The team’s designated hitters have a 95 wRC+, which is closer to league average but still ranks 17th overall.
What you absolutely love about Mervis is that he should give the Cubs good plate appearances. Yes, he should be seen as a power threat, but the left-handed hitter has evolved so much in the batter’s box since the start of 2022. Here are his strikeout and walk rates at each level last year.
Advanced A-Ball: 24.1 K%, 4.6 BB%
Double-A: 20 K%, 8.7 BB%
Triple-A: 14.6 K%, 10.4 BB%
In 112 plate appearances at Triple-A to begin the 2023 season, Mervis has posted a 17 K% and 16.1 BB%.