Matt Mervis sat in the crowd as it gave Jason HeywardWrigley Field received a standing ovation over the weekend. The development program was for a small group of top-level prospects. CubsIt was arranged that 14 players were able to tour the facility, meet with major-league coaches, and then stay at Hotel Zachary just across the street. As if that behind-the-scenes look wasn’t enough motivation to work hard this offseason, Heyward walked out of the home dugout to a roar of cheers, reached into his back pocket and put on his World Series ring.
“The players at breakfast (told us) when you play well, you do things for this city, they’ll love you, they’ll treat you like royalty forever,” Mervis said. “Everyone talks about the core of guys that won it in 2016, and we all want to be a part of the next core.”
Mervis forced himself into the organization’s plans by piling up huge numbers this year at three different minor-league affiliates. His season was so dominant — hitting .309 with 36 home runs and 119 RBIs while rising from High-A South Bend to Triple-A Iowa — that it’s fair to wonder what else he has to prove to make it to The Show. Mervis, if he’d been eligible to draft Rule 5 this offseason would likely have been added to the 40 man roster and available for Heyward moments.
But it wasn’t a smooth ride for Mervis to this point. His 2021 season was in fact a complete disaster. He looked just like any other undrafted agent at Low A Myrtle Beach. Last year, he had an 85 wRC+ at 23 which was nearly two years more than the average age of the players in that league.
