Matt Mervis – Picture by Todd Johnson

Cubs had a second prospect noticed by MLB Pipeline as today they named Matt Mervis, aka Smash Mervis, as one of the top 10 1B in minor league baseball. Mervis was slotted in the number four sport behind Tristan Casas, Tyler Soderstrom, and Kyle Manzardo. Mervis joins Jordan Wicks who was named one of the top LHP the other day. Expect PCA to get a nod later this week.

Mervis was praised for his arm, which graded as a 60 (he was a 2-way player at Duke after all). Mervis was also acknowledged at the “Highest Riser” They said:

Never mind the 1B list, Mervis wasn’t even ranked among the Cubs’ Top 30 prospects at the end of the 2021 season. The former Blue Devil was signed by the Cubs for $20,000 as a nondrafted free agent in 2020 and then produced just a .676 OPS in 69 Single-A games in his first full season a year later. Then, he exploded for 36 homers (tied for third-most in the Minors) across three levels in 2022 and heads into his age-25 season competing for a spot in Wrigley. Talk about a quick turnaround!.

This leads me to believe that he could be on their top 100 list next Thursday night and be slotted in behind PCA, Davis, and Alcantara on the Cubs top 30 list coming out next month!

Tomorrow’s post will be second baseman. Chase Strumpf has an outside shot at getting a nod there.