Matt Mervis Mashes Grand Slam!
I get it, the Chicago Cubs like Eric Hosmer and he’s been fine so far, at least for the most part, but there is still no doubt in so many minds that Matt Mervis should be up in the majors by now. Left-handed power hitters aren’t just growing on trees for the Cubs and the last one they had they non-tendered in Kyle Schwarber.
Please, for the love of god, CALL UP MASH MERVIS!
That is the second home run for Mervis through a handful of games so far this season for the Iowa Cubs and what makes it even better is that the left-handed slugger is wreaking havoc against left-handed pitching, as both of his home runs have been against left-handed pitchers.
Thursday’s grand slam against the St. Paul Saints, was obliterated, with an exit velocity of 112mph that went 412 feet in about four seconds. An absolute rocket that was blasted off Mervis’ bat. The Cubs simply do not have this power potential anywhere in their lineup outside of hoping for a big resurgence from Cody Bellinger.
It’s not like we’re talking about a 21-year-old guy coming off a hot stretch the year before in the minors. Mervis went un-drafted, had a meh 2021 season in his first pro year in the minor leagues, made adjustments, and executed his game plan to be one of the best hitters in minor league baseball in 2022. What else does he have to prove as he approaches his 25th birthday on April 16? He continues to crush Triple-A pitching and the Cubs could really use a dude who can hit home runs like he can.
And I get that Mervis didn’t exactly do much during spring training or in his brief appearance with Israel in the World Baseball Classic, but there is an entire year’s worth of data that showed he wasn’t just hitting for power, the first baseman was lowering his strikeout rate and increasing his walk rate as he climbed up the Cubs farm system.
It is very likely that Mervis will possibly get called up after April if guys like Edwin Ríos or Hosmer stumble through the first month of the regular season, but Mervis can’t be called up soon enough.
Oh and more stuff you love to see, Cubs outfield prospect Brennen Davis hit his first home run of the season on Thursday, crushing a solo bomb to straight away center field in the seventh inning.
And let’s not forget about Nelson Velázquez either, as the right-handed hitter got a ball up in the wind in the first inning for a two-run home run.
The Iowa Cubs offense has been on fire so far in 2023, scoring 27 runs in their first three games and have eight runs across the plate through eight innings on Thursday. There are definitely a few guys in Iowa’s lineup who should probably be in the majors or will be at some point this season with the Cubs. Matt Mervis is right at the top of that list.
Oh and Christopher Morel, him too.