Cubs’ Former Infielder Leaves MLB After Harsh Debut

And as the Cubs assess their postseason chances and personnel needs, they’ve received word that a former infielder has now left Major League Baseball entirely to continue his career abroad, shortly after the team traded him away.

First baseman Matt Mervis, who played in 36 games for the Cubs in 2023 and 2024 before the team traded him to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Vidal Brujan before last season, has joined the Mexican League.

“A former undrafted free agent signee by the Cubs, Mervis put himself on the prospect radar by slugging 36 homers between three minor league levels in 2022,” Anthony Franco wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “The Duke product made his big league debut one year later, striking out 32 times in his first 99 plate appearances.”

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Mervis never quite recovered from that harsh big-league debut with the Cubs.

All told, in 116 at-bats for the Cubs over two seasons, Mervis slashed just .165/.238/.322. Meanwhile, Brujan slashed .222/.234/.289 in 45 at-bats for the Cubs last year before he was designated for assignment and then claimed off of waivers by the Baltimore Orioles.

At this point, it seems likely that Mervis will stick in the Mexican League for the foreseeable future, though he will surely be working toward a comeback after he almost made a lasting impact for the Cubs.

“Mervis was in big league camp with Washington this year. He played one game for their Triple-A club in Rochester before being released,” Franco added. “He’ll hope to put things together in a hitter-friendly league in Mexico and play his way back to affiliated ball on a minor league contract.”

This article was originally published on Forbes.com