Matt Mervis is Coming for Eric Hosmer’s Job
Matt Mervis is showing no signs of slowing down at Triple-A with the Iowa Cubs and as each day passes fans continue to wonder when the 25-year-old is finally going to be called up to the big leagues.
The left-handed hitting first baseman was already having a good season through the first couple of weeks in April, but he’s now performing even better. Mervis has essentially been pitched around this year at Triple-A, but that hasn’t stopped him from being one of the top run producers in the league. Mervis is essentially showing the same plate discipline that Cubs fans have seen from Dansby Swanson in April, but the left-handed power hitter is also slugging like Patrick Wisdom.
This past weekend, Mervis went 6-for-15, with a home run, six RBI and two runs scored. During Sunday’s series finale against the Buffalo Bisons, Mervis went 3-for-5, with 3 RBI, a double and a run scored.
On Saturday, Mervis hit his fifth home run of the season.
Mervis is now slashing .288/.410/.576, with five home runs, 21 RBI, 20 runs scored, while walking in 16.9 percent of his plate appearances through Iowa’s first 18 games.
His 21 runs batted in rank second in the International League, while the 20 runs scored rank third.
Mervis ended the 2022 season at Triple-A, playing his final 57 games with the Iowa Cubs last year and there’s a reason fans remain dumbfounded that the Cubs seemingly don’t have plans to call him up ASAP.
The first baseman has now played in 75 games at Triple-A and he’s been one of the best hitters at that level since last summer.
Matt Mervis at Triple-A
75 Games
.295/.390/.589
150 wRC+
39 BB, 51 K
12.1 BB%, 15.8 K%
20 Home Runs, 60 RBI, 61 Runs Scored
We’re talking about a guy who is still hitting for a lot of power, but he’s not sacrificing his approach at the plate to do it because Mervis continues to maintain an above average walk rate while striking out less than the average hitter.
Cubs fans just saw Los Angeles Dodgers rookie James Outman obliterate the Cubs pitching staff at Wrigley Field this past week and wouldn’t you know, the 25-year-old also played in 57 games at Triple-A in 2022, the exact same amount as Mervis.
Outman has played in 23 games for the Dodgers this season and after his huge series against the Cubs, the left-handed hitting outfielder is slashing .311/.400/.703, with seven home runs and 19 RBI. Meanwhile, Mervis is getting ready to begin a series back in Iowa on Tuesday, as the Cubs continue to rely on Eric Hosmer.
By the way, Hosmer has 4 hits in his last 25 at-bats and in 59 plate appearances this season he’s slashing .241/.305/.352. I thought the Cubs got rid of Frank Schwindel? And I think this is now the third time I’ve written this, but even if the Cubs don’t want to get rid of Hosmer, how about replacing Edwin Ríos or Luis Torrens to get Mervis up in the big leagues. It’s not like either of those two players are doing much anyway.
There’s just no way anyone can convince me right now that Matt Mervis shouldn’t be up with the Chicago Cubs.