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Matt Mervis 2023 MLB Player Outlook: Veterans Won't Hold Back Big Power
2 years agoA two-way player in college at Duke University before being signed by the Chicago Cubs as an undrafted free agent, first baseman Matt Mervis was injured in 2021 and missed two months. That means Mervis' first entire season on the field as a hitter was in 2022, and he absolutely showed everything you would want to see. Mervis crushed 36 home runs in the minor league season across three levels and then followed that with six more home runs in the Arizona Fall League, tied for the AFL lead. Along the way, Mervis only struck out in 17.8% of plate appearances, a tremendously low rate for a slugger. He wasn't simply a slugger, though, as the 24-year-old sprayed 40 doubles on the season and hit .309 as a complete all-around hitter while walking at an 8.5 % rate. The Cubs' signings of Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini will send Mervis back to Triple-A to open the season, but if he continues to punish the ball at the same rate as in 2022, the Cubs will find a place in their lineup for his bat.
