Matt Mervis #22 of the Chicago Cubs runs to the dugout. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register reported that the Chicago Cubs recalled first baseman Matt Mervis from Triple-A Iowa to the majors on Tuesday.
Mervis is ranked No. 13 in the Cubs organization from MLBpipeline.com for the 2024 season. Mervis made his 2024 debut on Tuesday night at home against the Houston Astros and batted eighth as the designated hitter. He struck out once in his three at-bats in the Cubs 7-2 win over the Astros on April 23 at Wrigley Field.
The 26-year-old was born in Washington, D.C., and made his Major League Baseball debut on May 5, 2023, with the Cubs against the Miami Marlins.
After his senior season at Duke University, Mervis signed a minor league contract with the Cubs as an undrafted free agent on June 26, 2020.
The left-handed hitter started the 2024 regular season with Triple-A Iowa and played in 18 games with 82 plate appearances, batting .288, with 19 hits, six doubles, five home runs, 13 RBI, 12 walks, and 19 strikeouts before being promoted to the Cubs.
He has started in 16 games at first base with Triple-A Iowa through 145 innings with 103 chances, 92 putouts, 10 assists, one error, eight double plays, and a .990 fielding percentage.
During spring training, Mervis played in 21 games and hit .286 with 42 plate appearances, roping 10 hits, one home run, three RBI, seven walks, and nine strikeouts.
Last season, Mervis played between Triple-A Iowa and the Cubs. He played in 100 games with Triple-A Iowa and batted .282 in 441 plate appearances, ripping 102 hits, 23 doubles, one triple, 22 home runs, 78 RBI, 67 walks, 100 strikeouts, and a .932 OPS.
With the Cubs, Mervis played in 27 games and hit .167 with 99 plate appearances, recording 15 hits, two doubles, three home runs, 11 RBI, eight walks, and 32 strikeouts during the 2023 regular season.
Mervis played for Israel at the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Pool D in Miami at LoanDepot Park. He batted .077 in four games, with 13 at-bats, one walk, and five strikeouts during the tournament. Israel went 1-3 at the 2023 WBC in their second appearance and will not have to qualify for the 2026 event due to beating Nicaragua 3-1 on March 12, 2023. Nicaragua went winless in their first appearance, and the WBC, with their record at 0-4 and, will have to qualify for the 2026 tournament.
In Mervis’s four seasons in the minors, he has a lifetime average of .278 playing in 328 games with 1,404 plate appearances, smacking 333 hits, 81 doubles, four triples, 72 home runs, 254 RBI, 10 stolen bases, 166 walks, 296 strikeouts, and a .904 OPS.