Top Prospect Has Unusual Mentor in Chicago Cubs Clubhouse
Matt Mervis was called up to join the Chicago Cubs before the series against the Miami Marlins.
The Cubs have high hopes for Mervis, their No. 6 prospect.
Mervis’ skills was highlighted with two hits in a tough 5-4 14-inning loss on Sunday.
Mervis’ arrival also meant Eric Hosmer would be moved to more of a bench role. It’s the tough reality of being a Major League Baseball player.
Mervis and Hosmer have developed a special bond and it certainly doesn’t seem to be an issue.
"He's been awesome since the first day of spring training," Mervis told reporters. "The first day we met, he did the same thing. He came over, he introduced himself, he gave me a big dap up and a hug."
Mervis had hits in all three games against the Marlins in the start of what’s expected to be a great career.
How it affects the 33-year-old Hosmer in the future is unclear.
"It's been fun as we've gotten to know each other," Hosmer said. "He's a competitor. And he obviously has the tools. I think the mental tools are what he really has."
Mervis hit 36 home runs and compiled a .984 OPS across three levels of the Minor Leagues in 2022.
"Matty's a guy that the whole league is aware about," Hosmer said. "There's so much information about prospects now. I think a lot more people are up to date on that stuff, as social media and all that stuff is out there."
Having a veteran like Hosmer to continually guide a top prospect like Mervis is huge. It doesn’t always happen. There are only so many spots on every roster.
For now, the situation looks to be terrific in Chicago.
“He's been supportive the whole way," Mervis told reporters of Hosmer. "He worked with me defensively in spring training. He mentioned getting to work on defense here. It means a lot to me. He's a guy that has accomplished so much in his career and won and done an incredible job in his time in the big leagues. To have somebody like that in my corner, it means a lot to me and makes me excited to get to work with him."
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