Kalamazoo, MI – Former Kalamazoo Growler and the No. 6 ranked Chicago Cubs prospect Matt Mervis has been called up to the Major Leagues, per MLB Pipeline. Mervis sets to become the sixth Growler and 325th Northwoods League alumnus to make it to the Major Leagues and is expected to make his debut in the Cubs’ weekend series against the Miami Marlins.
Mervis was a Growler in the summer of 2018 following his sophomore year at Duke University. In 44 games with Kalamazoo, Mervis slashed .316/.395/.450 with 15 extra-base hits including four home runs and 28 RBI, while propelling the team to a runner-up finish in the South Division.
Two years later, Mervis would be selected as a priority free agent in the shortened five-round 2020 draft.
He made his professional debut in 2021 with the Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans and has been on a steady ascent through the Cubs system since. Last season, Mervis hit .309 with 36 home runs and a .984 OPS across 137 games and led all minor leaguers in extra-base hits with 78. In that time, Mervis worked his way up from High-A South Bend to AAA Iowa and was named the Cubs Minor League Player of the Year.
He was later chosen to represent the Cubs organization in the Arizona Fall League in October. Playing for the Mesa Solar Sox, Mervis’ 2022 tear would continue. In 17 games in the desert, Mervis hit a league-best six home runs along with 12 RBI.
This spring, Mervis was given an invite to spring training by the Cubs while also being named a part of Team Israel for the World Baseball Classic. Mervis started off the 2023 regular season back down at AAA with the Iowa Cubs. In 24 games in Iowa, he slashed .286/.402/.560 along with six home runs, seven doubles, and 27 RBI.
The power-hitting lefty looks to make an immediate impact at the Major League level at the Cubs first base slot, in an already packed room of corner infielders.
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The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now in its’ 29th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, 300 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information, visit www.growlersbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Growlers as your favorite team.