WASHINGTON — The prospect Cubs fans have been clamoring for all season is on the cusp of making his major-league debut.
Cubs are planning to call-up first base prospect Matt Mervis, and he is expected to join the team in Chicago for their weekend series against the Marlins, a source confirmed.
Mervis, the Cubs’ 2022 minor-league player of the year, has been slashing .286/.402/.560 in Triple-A to begin the season.
“I found in my experiences that players kind of hit you over the head with it over time,” general manager Carter Hawkins said earlier this week when asked about promotion decisions. “And you start having conversations, they get into the picture, and then you find yourself having a conversation every day. And at some point the answer becomes relatively obvious.”
Before the Cubs signed veteran first basemen Eric Hosmer and Trey Mancini this winter, Mervis was expected to get an opportunity to compete for a roster spot in spring training. Then, they added a third first baseman, Edwin Ríos, days before position players were scheduled to report to camp.
Mervis joined Team Israel for the World Baseball Classic and got to compete in meaningful games before the season even opened.
“Every day is a new day, it’s a new opportunity,” Mervis said of what he learned playing alongside major-leaguers. “And every day you’ve got to go out there and earn it and prove it.”
The Cubs have an open 40-man roster spot after designating left-hander Ryan Borucki for assignment on Tuesday, but they will have to make a move to clear a spot on the active roster for Mervis.
