Pretty depressing day in Chicago sports right? While the Bears were out there ripping everyone's hearts out on Thursday Night Football, another game was going on behind the scenes that nobody cared about.
The Mesa Solar Sox were playing a late game in the Arizona Fall League, where many Cubs prospects are a part of the roster. It is a lot of top Cubs prospects that seem to have a chance to make contributions to the 2023 Chicago Cubs.
One guy that needs to be talked about is first base product, Matt Mervis. Learn his name if you are a Cubs fan because this guy is going to be important going forward. So important, that I think he might just be the next great first baseman for the Chicago Cubs.
Matt Mervis, otherwise known as MASH Mervis had an incredible night going up against some of the game's top prospects. Mervis went 3-4 with two homers and a double. And let me say, those two homers were absolute bombs.
This was his second homer of the night and as the saying goes, it was absolutely MASHED. You might ask yourself, Ben, why are you overreacting to this guy after one Arizona Fall League game? Well, let me tell you the sample size is MUCH bigger.
This guy was one of the best hitters across all minor league baseball this season. Mervis hit .309 with 36 bombs and a .984 OPS. Those numbers are spread across three different minor league levels (A+, AA, AAA). Those 36 homers were good enough for the 3rd most across the minors. Plus, he was just named the Cubs minor league position player of the year!
Needless to say, he raked at all levels he played for this season. So what does that mean for him with the Cubs going forward? It means there is no possible way Jed does not give this guy the phone call to come play first base for the Cubs in 2023.
There is no need to get a washed-up first baseman in free agency or continue to play Wisdom or Rivas at first. The answer is right in front of our faces. Matt Mervis should be the first baseman for the Chicago Cubs in 2023.
This is what we have been waiting for since the departure of Rizzo. A sweet big bodied left-handed swing that is going to pimp baseballs into the right field bleachers. Matt Mervis is exactly that guy.
He burst onto the scene in 2022 and has leapfrogged throughout the Cubs prospects rankings and he has just continued to prove himself time and time again. If he continues to have a strong Fall League, I legitimately think there is no other answer for who should be playing first base come opening day.
He is already 24 years old and is proving he is ready for the show. You can come back to this blog in however many years and say I was wrong, but he will be the first piece of our position player prospects to fall that will ultimately solve the bigger puzzle. He is that guy and I could not be more excited for him.
If the Cubs truly want to compete in 2023, do not go into free agency looking for a first baseman. Stay in-house because the answer for first base is slapping them right in the face. Matt Mervis is the next stud first baseman for the Chicago Cubs.
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