One year ago, Matt Mervis was coming off a year when he had moved from High-A ball in South Bend up to AAA in Iowa. He had an OPS of .984, 37 home runs, 119 RBI, and a batting average of .309 in just over 500 at-bats. Going into Spring Training last year, there was buzz that Mervis might end up being the starting first baseman on Opening Day. However, his debut with the Cubs did not go as planned and he spent only 27 games with the big-league club. Now, the question becomes, can Matt Mervis begin to produce and be the player the Cubs thought he would become as he shot up through the farm system?
Matt Mervis, Kevin Alcantara, and Brennan Davis among others taking Live BP. #Cubs #SpringTraining pic.twitter.com/fvgpubpIvN
— Steve Sher (@stevesher_7) February 18, 2024
Can Matt Mervis Produce for the Cubs?
“Mash” Was Trending Up
Mervis made his major league debut on May 5 last year against Miami, going 1-for-4 with an RBI and two strikeouts. He was the starting first baseman for six series with mixed results. His best game came on May 23 against the New York Mets, where he went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Unfortunately, Mervis only had three multi-hit games during the month of May in 19 games, and he played somewhat sparingly in June. Ultimately, on June 16, Mervis was sent back down to Iowa and never returned to Chicago during the 2023 season. In just under 100 plate appearances, Mervis hit .167 with 32 strikeouts, only three home runs, and 11 RBI.
What is Mervis’ Future?
The future for Mervis is unclear. The Cubs traded for Michael Busch, who is primarily a third baseman but could see time at first base. With the team still hoping to sign Cody Bellinger, opportunities at first base for Mervis become even less frequent. Although 100 plate appearances do not seem like enough to determine the long-term outlook for a player, Mervis might prove more valuable to another ball club moving forward. However, his success in the minors prior to last season suggests he may still have a future with the Cubs.
There is no question that Mervis, a former pitcher, can hit. His statistics in the minor leagues prove this. In parts of three seasons, he has an OPS of .898, 67 home runs, and 241 RBI. The question might be whether he gets another opportunity. Mervis might end up as a dreaded “AAAA” player who dominates minor league pitching but can’t find his way in the majors. The acquisition of Busch may indicate the Cubs have lost faith in Mervis as being a real solution at first base. However, if Bellinger ends up signing elsewhere, Mervis’ chances of playing more with the big-league club would obviously increase.
Guessing now, I think Mervis will end up in a trade sometime around July, especially if his minor league numbers continue to improve. This will largely depend on the success of Busch and Christopher Morel, another option at first. Although it’s not completely under his control, if Mervis can hit this spring, his chances of contributing to the Cubs can only increase.
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