Former Cubs Top First Base Prospect Signed By Arizona Diamondbacks

The Chicago Cubs had some high hopes for first baseman Matt Mervis, who was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020 after originally being selected by the Washington Nationals in the 39th round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of Georgetown Prepatory School in North Bethesda, Maryland.

He opted against joining the Nationals at that time, playing collegiately at Duke but having his path to professional baseball complicated by COVID-19, which led to a shrunk draft in 2020 and no minor league season.

The Cubs saw enough to sign him to a deal, beginning his professional career in 2021 at Single-A Myrtle Beach. He even got into four games at Triple-A Iowa, making a massive leap in competition but holding his own, going 4-for-14 with a one walk and four strikeouts.

In 2022, he started in High-A South Bend and mashed his way to two promotions, crushing the ball at Double-A Tennessee before landing back with Triple-A Iowa. Mervis compiled an impressive .309/.379/.605 slash line with 36 home runs and 40 doubles with 119 RBI across 137 games and 578 plate appearances.

He tore the cover off the ball in 2023 again with Iowa, hitting 22 home runs and 23 doubles with 78 RBI, which earned him his promotion to the Big Leagues for the first time. Unfortunately, the success he found in the minor leagues didn’t translate.

Matt Mervis lands with Arizona Diamondbacks