Matt

Mervis

Gott, Lipscomb, and Mervis all have prior MLB experience but were unable to win an Opening Day job with the Nationals. As a 33-year-old veteran, Gott has no more minor league options remaining, so it remains to be seen where he goes from here. Seaver King is the Nationals’ 5th-ranked prospect and is coming off a strong Arizona Fall League season. He was 6-for-16 in MLB spring training with five singles and a stolen base, and he will now either head to Double-A or Triple-A to try and continue his strong run of production.

Both teams had already been eliminated with the Dominican Republic and Venezuela advancing from Pool D. Israel also got three RBI from Dodgers prospect Jake Gelof tonight. Mervis ends the tournament 3-for-11 with three RBI. He’s set to rejoin the Nationals and resume his bid for a bid for a roster spot on a team with an unsettled situation at first base.

Mervis made the most of his opportunity off the bench, drawing a walk, swiping a base, and later scorching a game-tying two-run double to right-center in the eighth inning. The 27-year-old former top first-base prospect never found sustained footing in a pair of brief stints with the Cubs and struggled to a .175 average with seven homers over 42 games for the Marlins last season. A strong spring could put him in the mix for a spot on Washington’s Opening Day roster, but from a fantasy standpoint, the bar is steep – especially in an era where the first-base pool is deeper than it used to be.

These was thought Mervis’s declining EV numbers during a rough 2024 were the product of a broken hamate bone, so the Marlins gave him a chance last season. However, he hit just .175/.254/.383 in 134 plate appearances before being cast off. He went on to hit 19 homers in 65 Triple-A games, and his EV numbers were better at the end of the year. Still, he mostly just seems like a Triple-A slugger at the moment.

The 27-year-old slugger saw extensive big league action with the Marlins this season, slashing a woeful .175/.254/.383 with seven homers, 14 RBI and a 50/11 K/BB ratio over 134 plate appearances. He should see regular action at first base at Triple-A Reno and gives the Diamondbacks a contingency option behind Tyler Locklear.

Eric Wagaman has been struggling, so Mervis might get another shot if he keeps this up. He’s hit .265/.359/.706 with four homers in nine games since reporting to Jacksonville. All four of his balls in play last night were hit at least 99 mph, and the one that resulted in an out was still launched 387 feet.

No team was willing to roll the dice on Mervis after he was designated for assignment last week. Mervis hit .175 with seven homers in 134 plate appearances to open the year. The 27-year-old will presumably stick around with Miami as extra organizational depth.

Mervis had an option remaining, but the Marlins will either trade him or expose him to waivers. We’re not sure anyone will be eager to add him. He did have seven homers in 134 plate appearances, good for second place on the ballclub, but he hit just .175/.254/.383 with 50 strikeouts and unimpressive exit velocity numbers. He seems like a Triple-A guy right now. The Marlins will likely use Eric Wagaman at first now, since he was about to lose outfield playing time with Dane Myers back.

Both players have options remaining, but it looks like they’re being subtracted from the 40-man anyway. Heriberto Hernandez will probably be taking Mervis’s spot. Simon seemed to be the likely candidate to go when Xavier Edwards was activated from the IL, though it’s not clear if Edwards, who is making the move to second base, is ready just yet.

Time is probably running out for Mervis, who is 4-for-35 with no homers and 16 strikeouts this month. He does have an option year left, so sending him down is no issue, and the Marlins could give Troy Johnston a look in his place.