The Chicago Cubs are including some thump to their lineup.
First baseman Matt Mervis has been referred to as up, sources confirmed to the Tribune. He will be a part of the group Friday for the collection opener towards the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field.
A robust 2022 minor-league season positioned Mervis, 25, for this chance. He smashed his method by means of the Cubs’ minor-league system final yr, advancing by means of three ranges from High-A South Bend to Triple-A Iowa by the tip of the season.
Mervis signed with the Cubs as an undrafted free agent in 2020 when the draft lasted solely 5 rounds due to the pandemic. A two-way participant out of Duke, Mervis has proven a eager eye and affected person strategy, reducing down on his strikeouts every time he moved as much as the subsequent affiliate resulting in a 16.1 BB% and 17.0 Okay% with Iowa this yr.
The Cubs hope these developments proceed on the big-league degree.
“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,” basic supervisor Carter Hawkins stated this week in Washington.
Mervis ought to get ample alternatives as their first baseman or designated hitter, particularly towards right-handers. His enjoying time will possible come on the expense of the veteran Eric Hosmer, who entered Thursday hitting .250 with a .294 on-base share and 78 OPS+ in 26 video games.
In 24 video games at Triple A, Mervis produced a .286/.402/.560 slash line with six house runs, seven doubles and 27 RBIs.
Mervis, rated the group’s No. 4 prospect by Baseball America and No. 6 by MLB.com, shouldn’t be seen because the savior for an offense that has scuffled the final two weeks. But the potential he brings creates upside the Cubs aren’t getting proper now from their left-handed first base/DH choices in Hosmer and Edwin Ríos.
Catch up on different Cubs prospects
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com