Matt Mervis acquired a standing ovation Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field after putting out in his first major-league at-bat.
It was certainly one of 4 huge ovations the Chicago Cubs prospect acquired from the group of 31,181 whereas going 1-for-4 with an RBI single in his debut in a 4-1 win in opposition to the Miami Marlins.
“Wrigley does such a good job of the fans appreciating those moments,” Ian Happ mentioned of Mervis’ debut. “Impressive. He comes out, a tough matchup (against) the starter (Edward Cabrera). For him to get punched out in that first at-bat and the fans still give him an ovation walking off, that’s just cool. That kind of support here is what makes it a really special place.”
It was essentially the most anticipated debut by a Cubs prospect since Kris Bryant in 2015, although Mervis’ call-up extra carefully resembled that of first baseman Anthony Rizzo 11 years in the past.
Rizzo’s Cubs debut on June 26, 2012, was one of the crucial hyped occasions in years and the unofficial begin of President Theo Epstein’s rebuild.
“I’m here to stay,” Rizzo mentioned earlier than the sport. “I’m just going to work hard every day, learn, get better, go through the ups and down of a baseball player, the nicks and bruises, and that’s about it.”
WGN-Ch. 9 hyped the arrival with a business selling the printed. Newspapers added o the hysteria, together with a Chicago Tribune graphic — with the headline of “The second coming” — evaluating Rizzo’s arrival on the North Side with Babe Ruth going from the Red Sox to the Yankees.
“Anthony Rizzo hit one home run in 49 games with the Padres. Babe Ruth had a .981 OPS and 2.19 ERA in five-plus seasons with the Red Sox. Still, the hype for Rizzo’s first game on the North Side reached Ruthian levels. So we might as well start the comparisons. A look at the debuts of Ruth and Rizzo with their second teams.”
The Tribune regrets the error.
Rizzo turned out to be a particular participant in Cubs historical past, however any resemblance to Ruth was purely coincidental.
The 22-year-old Rizzo went 2-for-4 with an RBI double within the Cubs’ 5-3 win in opposition to the Mets and acquired a standing ovation earlier than his first at-bat.
Ditto Mervis, who mentioned after the sport he was simply making an attempt “not to overthink it” and deal with it like another recreation.
“Obviously the biggest crowd I every played in front of, and for people to cheer for me like that was nothing I’ve experienced before,” he mentioned. “It was a lot of fun.”
The Cubs shook off the lingering results of a 1-6 journey and returned to .500 at 16-16. Happ hit a two-run residence run and halted a possible fourth inning rally with a working catch with two males on. Justin Steele pitched seven robust innings, permitting one run on six hits whereas bettering to 5-0.
But the day belonged to Mervis, the subsequent huge factor on a staff that hopes to contend for a division title. Rizzo arrived within the first yr of the Epstein rebuild and knew they had been going nowhere.
Mervis arrives as Epstein’s substitute, Jed Hoyer, is in a key yr in his rebuild — one which he steadfastly refused to name a rebuild.
Hoyer mentioned Friday that he introduced up Mervis as a result of the primary baseman was prepared and the Cubs offense was in a rut. They hit .249 and scored 21 runs on the latest journey to Miami and Washington, shedding 5 by one run.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on him,” Hoyer mentioned. “Certainly it’s a lever to pull to bring him up to play a lot, but at the same time we’re not expecting him to carry the lineup or do anything other than what he can do. We were really good on offense in the beginning of the season. Obviously we’re in a bit of a dip right now.”
Rizzo had the benefit of taking part in in San Diego in 2011 earlier than being dealt to the Cubs, the place he was instantly dubbed the savior.
“I was the savior last year (in San Diego) too,” Rizzo mentioned that day in 2012. “And that’s why I think it’s easier this year to come up. Hopefully this is just a building block of what is to come here in the city and the organization. Hopefully we can look back and this is one of the first steps.”
Rizzo turned out to be one of many first steps in constructing a championship staff, whereas Mervis strikes right into a complementary place behind Cody Bellinger, Dansby Swanson, Happ and Nico Hoerner.
Mervis mentioned Friday morning that he “kind of blacked out” when he acquired the decision however he regrouped and referred to as his mother, who cried. He is aware of he’s going to be the main target of the lineup for some time to see if his energy interprets to the majors however insisted it wouldn’t have an effect on him.
“I don’t really pay attention to it,” Mervis mentioned of expectations. “I expect to come in and help us win right away. Whatever Twitter or the media is saying about me, I’m sure I’m thinking the same thing about my own performance.”
Manager David Ross inserted Mervis into the No. 7 spot in opposition to Cabrera. Rizzo made his Cubs debut within the No. 3 gap in opposition to the Mets, the place supervisor Dale Sveum batted him in 82 of his 85 begins in 2012.
After putting out on a changeup within the first, grounding to second within the fourth and putting out on three pitches within the sixth, Mervis got here to the plate within the eighth in opposition to left-hander Tanner Scott with two on and two out following an intentional stroll to Trey Mancini. Mervis singled sharply to proper, receiving his third standing ovation, and acquired another after the inning ended as he walked to the dugout to get his glove.
“I took a second to look up in the crowd and take that one in,” Mervis mentioned. “I think I got chills. My teammates were going crazy. The crowd was going crazy. That one was special.”
Mervis mentioned he would give the memento ball to his dad to “present proudly in his office.” Both of his mother and father, in addition to siblings and several other associates, had been readily available for his debut, one they may lengthy bear in mind.
Times change and gamers come and go. Rizzo thought he could be a Cub the remainder of his profession after serving to make them a World Series title in 2016. But Hoyer dealt him to the New York Yankees on the commerce deadline in July 2021 after the perimeters couldn’t conform to a contract extension, and Rizzo has embraced his new chapter in New York.
No one is aware of whether or not Mervis could make the identical influence in Chicago as Rizzo did. Few gamers left their mark on Cubs followers as the favored first baseman. But if first impressions are lasting, this may very well be the beginning of an attractive relationship.
“To watch a guy realize his dream is a special thing,” Hoyer mentioned. “I love these moments. My hope is that not soon after (Mervis), people are clamoring for the next guy. And that’s when I know we’re good as an organization, when there is always a next guy.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com