Cubs to finally promote power-hitting prospect Matt Mervis

Shortly after watching Lane Thomas deposite a Jameson Taillon offering into the left field bleacher to put the Cubs down 3-0 in Thursday's series finale against the Nationals, we got some long-awaited news about a certain slugging first base prospect.

That's right. One night after David Ross decided to use Eric Hosmer, the team's DH on Wednesday, to lay down a sac bunt with two men on and nobody out in the ninth, the Cubs will be getting a badly-needed shot in the arm offensively.

After a hot start to the season, Chicago has gone ice-cold of late and is in danger of dropping three of four to the lowly Nationals, a team widely expected to exceed the 100-loss mark in 2023. At first base, Hosmer has been a major concern and Edwin Rios, who was supposed to be the team's left-handed power bat off the bench heading into the year, has hardly sniffed the field and, at this point, has to be considered a waste of a roster spot.

Cubs finally set to promote Matt Mervis, address hole on the roster

At Triple-A Iowa this year, Mervis has continued to impress, not only showing off his power but a big league-ready eye, walking 18 times while striking out just 19. That's been a key separator for the Cubs' #6-ranked prospect. He's not just a three true outcome guy; Mervis has shown an ability to work counts, look for his pitch and, when he gets it, do damage.

Mervis will see time at first and the DH spot with the Cubs, and exactly how the roster shakes out will be determined by the team's corresponding roster move that we don't yet know details of. More on that to come soon.