On Christmas Eve, first baseman Matt Mervis signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals, including an invitation to Spring Training in February. Mervis was originally drafted by the Nationals in the 39th round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of high school, but he chose to attend Duke University on a baseball scholarship instead. At Duke, he excelled both at the plate and on the mound as a relief pitcher, serving as team captain prior to the shortened 2020 season and earning recognition as one of the top senior players in the country.
After going unselected in the five-round 2020 MLB Draft, Mervis signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Cubs. Over the past five seasons, he climbed through multiple levels of the minors, reaching Triple-A Iowa in 2022. That season, across three levels, he produced impact power numbers at Triple-A, hitting for average, on-base percentage, and slugging that helped earn him the nickname “Mash.” In the majors, he has seen time at first base with the Cubs and, most recently, with the Miami Marlins.
Mervis’s minor league track record is impressive: he has piled up home runs, extra-base hits, and strong on-base numbers across hundreds of games and more than 1,600 at-bats, posting an OPS well above .800 during his time in the minors. That production has not yet fully carried over to the big leagues, where a high strikeout rate and lower batting average have limited his impact so far. Still, the power is undeniable—his home run rate in the majors shows that when he makes contact, he can do serious damage.
Mervis also represented Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, adding international experience to his resume. With extensive Triple-A time, real left-handed power, and the benefit of a fresh start with the Nationals’ new coaching staff, the 27-year-old local product could be a compelling breakout candidate to watch in West Palm Beach this spring.