Chicago Cubs Prospect Matt Mervis Continues Scorching Hot Season

It was another day and another two knocks for Matt Mervis who continues to be possibly the biggest breakout star for the Chicago Cubs organization.

Chicago Cubs prospect Matt Mervis continued his breakout season Thursday, going 2-for-4 with his seventh home run in Triple-A Iowa, and bringing his OPS up to .951 and his home run total across three levels to 28. 

The 2020 undrafted free agent has seen a meteoric rise this season, rising through the minor leagues and raking at every level. The first baseman has a season wRC+ of 155, and hasn't posted an OPS below the .900 mark at any level.

Perhaps the most impressive thing for Mervis has been the batted ball data. The 24-year-old has posted sub-40% groundball rates at all three minor league levels, along with flyball rates better than 40%. As a bonus, the lefty pulls the ball at around a 50% rate on all of his batted balls. 

The ingredients are there for Mervis to be a very successful bat at the major league level and maybe the leader in the clubhouse to be the 2023 opening-day first baseman. 

Elsewhere on the farm:

Triple-A: Iowa Cubs (57-69) at Columbus Clippers (73-51): L 7-5

• Adbert Alzolay was not as successful in his second outing in Iowa. The righty allowed four runs in 1.2 innings with no strikeouts.
• Jared Young hit his 16th home run of the season. He is second on the team, tied with John Hicks, and behind Narciso Crook.
• Michael Hermosillo stayed hot in his rehab, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. He is batting .444 in Iowa.
• Cam Sanders had a nice outing out of the bullpen, pitching two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and walking one. 

Double-A: Tennessee Smokies (66-57) vs Mississippi Braves (56-66): W 7-1

• Jake Slaughter went 3-for-5, raising his OPS to .948 on the season.
• Yonathan Perlaza went 2-for5 with a home run and an RBI. The outfielder has 22 home runs on the season.
• Bryce Ball also homered. The first baseman has 10 on the year. 
• Ryan Jensen spun a gem Thursday, pitching four scoreless innings with five strikeouts. The righty has a 3.77 ERA since coming off the development list. 

High-A: South Bend Cubs (70-53) at Lansing Lugnuts (50-73): W 3-1

• Pete Crow-Armstrong went 1-for-4. The lefty hit his seventh triple of the season. 
• Luis Devers was dominant yet again. Pitching five innings, striking eight out, and allowing just one run. The righty has a 0.96 ERA in High-A.
• Owen Caissie went 2-for-4. The outfielder has a 213 wRC+ in his last week. 
• Jordan Nwogu and Luis Verdugo also each finished with two knocks.

Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans (73-50) at Charleston RiverDogs (82-41): W 7-6

• Kevin Alcantara went 2-for6 from the leadoff spot. 
• Haydn McGeary went 2-for-5 with an RBI. The Cubs 2022 15th-round pick has an .813 OPS in Single-A.
• Ezequiel Pagan had another multi-hit game, going 3-for-4 with a walk. Pagan's OPS rose above .800 with the game. 
• Brody McCullough, the Cubs 10th-round pick, struck out three batters and walked one in an inning of relief. 

Transactions:

• The Cubs officially recalled David Bote, selected the contract of Jeremiah Estrada, and optioned Brendon Little to Triple-A Iowa.

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