Matt Mervis Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

AB	6
AVG	0
OBP	0
SLG	0
HR	0

Full name Matthew Jared Mervis
Born 04/16/1998 in Washington, DC
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Duke
Drafted in the 39th round (1,174th overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2016.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 45/Medium

Track Record: An unsigned 39th-round pick of the Nationals out of high school, Mervis played both ways at Duke as a righthanded reliever and first baseman. He went unpicked as a senior in the shortened 2020 draft and signed with the Cubs as an undrafted free agent. Mervis made teams regret passing over him when he hit 36 home runs and led the minors with 310 total bases in 2022 as he climbed to Triple-A. He earned his first big league callup in 2023 when the Cubs needed help at first base, but he hit just .167 in 29 games and was sent back to Triple-A.

Scouting Report: Mervis is a large lefthanded hitter with average plate discipline and plus raw power. He has excellent bat speed and natural timing, which allows him to crush fastballs over the plate. Mervis’ swing got overly rotational and he struggled to pick up lefthanders in his big league debut, but he rediscovered his previous form in his return to Triple-A. He still projects to be a fringe-average hitter as long keeps his approach geared toward the middle of the field, though he may need to sit against lefties. Mervis has to hit because he’s a below-average runner and defender at first base who can’t play any other position. He has plus-plus arm strength and touched 96 mph as a pitcher.

The Future: Mervis will get another shot at the majors in 2024. He turns 26 in April and needs to show he can stick in Chicago.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 30 | Field: 40 | Arm: 70
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium

Track Record: Mervis played both ways at Duke as a first baseman/righthanded reliever and showed promising offensive potential with Cotuit in the Cape Cod League. He projected to be drafted between rounds six and 10 in 2020, but he went unpicked after the draft was shortened to five rounds due to the coronavirus pandemic. Mervis signed with the Cubs as an undrafted free agent and broke out with one of the best seasons in the minors in 2022. He vaulted from High-A to Triple-A and led the minor leagues with 78 extra-base hits, 117 RBIs and 310 total bases and finished tied for third with 36 home runs.

Scouting Report: Mervis is a hulking lefthanded hitter with plus raw power. He previously struggled to make enough contact to get to it, but he shortened his swing and honed his approach in 2022 to focus on pitches in the middle third of the plate. He has excellent bat speed and natural timing, and his improved swing path and selectivity give him a chance to be an average hitter. Mervis can be a touch aggressive on soft stuff below the zone and isn't as dangerous against lefthanders, but he demolishes fastballs, has good strike-zone recognition and keeps his strikeouts low for a power hitter. He mostly pulls the ball and will benefit from the new rules banning shifts in the majors. Mervis' value is tied almost exclusively to his bat. He is a well below-average runner and a below-average, but passable, defender at first base. He has retained the plus-plus arm strength that helped him reach 96 mph as a pitcher in college.

The Future: Mervis projects to be an everyday first baseman who hits for power, a case he amplified by tying for the Arizona Fall League lead with six home runs. His big league debut should come in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50. Power: 60. Speed: 30. Fielding: 40. Arm: 70

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium

Track Record: Mervis played both ways at Duke as a first baseman/righthanded reliever and showed promising offensive potential with Cotuit in the Cape Cod League. He projected to be drafted between rounds six and 10 in 2020, but he went unpicked after the draft was shortened to five rounds due to the coronavirus pandemic. Mervis signed with the Cubs as an undrafted free agent and broke out with one of the best seasons in the minors in 2022. He vaulted from High-A to Triple-A and led the minor leagues with 78 extra-base hits, 117 RBIs and 310 total bases and finished tied for third with 36 home runs.

Scouting Report: Mervis is a hulking lefthanded hitter with plus raw power. He previously struggled to make enough contact to get to it, but he shortened his swing and honed his approach in 2022 to focus on pitches in the middle-third of the plate, leading to his breakout year. He has excellent bat speed and natural timing, and his improved swing path and selectivity give him a chance to be an average hitter. Mervis can be a touch aggressive on soft stuff below the zone and isn't as dangerous against lefthanders, but he demolishes fastballs, has good strike-zone recognition and keeps his strikeouts low for a power hitter. He mostly pulls the ball and will benefit from the new rules banning shifts in the majors. Mervis' value is tied almost exclusively to his bat. He is a well below-average runner and a below-average--but passable--defender at first base. He has retained the plus-plus arm strength that helped him reach 96 mph as a pitcher in college.

The Future: Mervis projects to be an everyday first baseman who hits for power, a case he amplified by tying for the Arizona Fall League lead with six home runs. His big league debut should come in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50. Power: 60. Speed: 30. Fielding: 40. Arm: 70
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Medium

Track Record: Mervis played both ways at Duke as a first baseman/righthanded reliever and showed promising offensive potential with Cotuit in the Cape Cod League. He projected to be drafted between rounds six and 10 in 2020, but he went unpicked after the draft was shortened to five rounds due to the coronavirus pandemic. Mervis signed with the Cubs as an undrafted free agent and broke out with one of the best seasons in the minors in 2022. He vaulted from High-A to Triple-A and led the minor leagues with 78 extra-base hits, 117 RBIs and 310 total bases and finished tied for third with 36 home runs.

Scouting Report: Mervis is a hulking lefthanded hitter with plus raw power. He previously struggled to make enough contact to get to it, but he shortened his swing and honed his approach in 2022 to focus on pitches in the middle third of the plate. He has excellent bat speed and natural timing, and his improved swing path and selectivity give him a chance to be an average hitter. Mervis can be a touch aggressive on soft stuff below the zone and isn't as dangerous against lefthanders, but he demolishes fastballs, has good strike-zone recognition and keeps his strikeouts low for a power hitter. He mostly pulls the ball and will benefit from the new rules banning shifts in the majors. Mervis' value is tied almost exclusively to his bat. He is a well below-average runner and a below-average, but passable, defender at first base. He has retained the plus-plus arm strength that helped him reach 96 mph as a pitcher in college.

The Future: Mervis projects to be an everyday first baseman who hits for power, a case he amplified by tying for the Arizona Fall League lead with six home runs. His big league debut should come in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50. Power: 60. Speed: 30. Fielding: 40. Arm: 70
BA Grade: 45/High

Midseason Update: A two-way player at Duke, Mervis has blossomed with his focus solely on being a position player. He is one of the best offensive prospects in the Cubs&#39 system with plus raw power he gets to in games and a physical frame that should allow him to continue impacting the ball. Mervis is limited strictly to first base defensively, but he has the bat to profile there.