Matthew Jared Mervis Bio
Matthew Jared Mervis (born April 16, 1998), nicknamed Mash, is an American professional baseball first baseman who most recently played for the Washington Nationals in Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played for the Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins, establishing himself as a significant power-hitting prospect in professional baseball. Mervis played college baseball at Duke University and went undrafted in the five-round 2020 MLB Draft before signing with the Cubs as a free agent. Known for his remarkable talent, he led Minor League Baseball in RBIs in 2022. Mervis also represented Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, showcasing his international appeal and competitive spirit.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Jared Mervis was born in Washington, D.C., to Jeffrey Mervis and Ellen Van Bergen. He is Jewish, with his paternal grandmother, Bertina Tina Mervis, having been born and raised in the city of Givatayim in Israel before moving to the United States as a young adult. Mervis grew up in Potomac, Maryland, with one older brother and a younger sister.
Mervis attended Georgetown Preparatory School in North Bethesda, Maryland, where he played baseball. He earned a spot on the 2014 Perfect Game Preseason Underclassmen All American Team as a High Honorable Mention. As a junior in 2015, he had a .409 batting average with 39 runs batted in, while as a pitcher he had a 0.10 earned run average and threw a 92 mph fastball. He was named the 2015 Perfect Game Preseason Underclassmen All American Second Team.
In 2016, as a senior, Mervis batted .348 with two home runs while also posting a 1.13 ERA with 121 strikeouts. He was named the 2016 Perfect Game Preseason Atlantic-All Region First Team. He was selected by the Washington Nationals in the 39th round of the 2016 MLB Draft but did not sign. That summer, he played with the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League, where his batting average led the league.
Path to Professional Baseball
After high school, Mervis enrolled at Duke University where he majored in political science and played four years of college baseball as a pitcher, first baseman, and third baseman. During his freshman year in 2017, he had two doubles over six at-bats while pitching to a 2-2 record with a 7.83 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 23 innings. That summer, he briefly played for both the New Bedford BaySox of the New England Collegiate Baseball League and the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
As a sophomore with Duke in 2018, he collected one hit over four at-bats while going 3-0 with a 4.91 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 25 2/3 innings. That summer, he played for the Kalamazoo Growlers of the Northwoods League, where he slashed .316/.395/.450 over 171 at-bats, ending the season in the top five in most offensive categories.
During his junior season at Duke in 2019, he posted a .274/.358/.421 slash line with six home runs and 31 RBIs in 190 at-bats and 48 starts. That summer, Mervis played with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League where he slashed .325/.418/.571 with four home runs over 77 at-bats with 24 RBIs and was named a league all-star. Prior to his shortened senior season in 2020, he was named the 19th-best senior in the country by Perfect Game and was selected as team captain. He had a .304/.458/.589 slash line with three home runs over 16 games before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Matthew Jared Mervis Career
Chicago Cubs (2020-2024)
Mervis went unselected in the five-round 2020 MLB Draft and signed with the Chicago Cubs in June 2020 as an undrafted free agent, transitioning to first baseman full-time. Due to the unique rules of the shortened draft, Mervis only received $20,000 upon signing. He made his professional debut in 2021 with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the Low-A East, and also played in three games with the Iowa Cubs of Triple-A East. Over 72 games between both teams, he batted .208 with nine home runs and 44 RBIs.
Mervis opened the 2022 season with the South Bend Cubs of the High-A Midwest League, slashing .350/.389/.650 in 100 at-bats with 35 runs, seven home runs, and 29 RBIs over 27 games. He was promoted to the Tennessee Smokies of the Double-A Southern League in mid-May, where he batted .300/.370/.596 in 203 at-bats over 53 games with 16 doubles, 14 home runs, and 51 RBIs. In mid-July, he was promoted to Iowa of the Triple-A International League.
His combined 2022 season totals between South Bend, Tennessee, and Iowa included a .309/.379/.605 slash line with 92 runs, 40 doubles, 36 home runs, and 119 RBIs in 510 at-bats. Mervis led all of the minor leagues in 2022 with his 119 RBIs, also led the minors in extra-base hits with 78, was tied for second in the minors with 40 doubles, and was third in the minor leagues with 36 home runs. He was named the Cubs 2022 Minor League Player of the Year and an MiLB Organization All-Star.
Mervis was selected to play for the Mesa Solar Sox in the 2022 Arizona Fall League, where he was chosen as the Arizona Rising Stars MVP, an Arizona Fall League Fall Star, and was named the 2022 Fall Stars Game MVP. He batted .291/.344/.655 and led the league in home runs (six), as well as isolated power and at-bats per home run.
Miami Marlins (2025)
On December 29, 2024, Mervis was traded to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Vidal Brujan. He made the Marlins Opening Day roster on March 27, 2025. With six home runs in his first 13 games of the season, Mervis tied the Marlins franchise record, and also tied as of April 16 for the fourth-most home runs in the major leagues. Mervis was designated for assignment following the promotions of Heriberto Hernandez and Jack Winkler on May 30.
He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on June 2, with whom Mervis batted .250/.309/.625 (fifth in the International League) with a .924 OPS and 13 home runs in 149 plate appearances. Mervis was released by the Marlins organization on August 4.
Arizona Diamondbacks and Washington Nationals (2025-2026)
On August 12, 2025, Mervis signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. He made 30 appearances for the Triple-A Reno Aces, slashing .245/.320/.518 with six home runs and 24 RBI. Mervis elected free agency following the season on November 6. On December 24, 2025, Mervis signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. After playing in one game for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, he was released by the Nationals organization on April 2, 2026.
Matthew Jared Mervis Awards and Achievements
Throughout his minor league career, Mervis accumulated numerous accolades that highlight his offensive prowess and impact at each level. His most prolific season came in 2022, when he led all of Minor League Baseball with 119 RBIs and 78 extra-base hits while tying for second in doubles and ranking third in home runs.
In 2022, Mervis was named the Arizona Rising Stars MVP and Fall Stars Game MVP during the Arizona Fall League, also earning recognition as an Arizona Fall League Fall Star. He was additionally named the Cubs 2022 Minor League Player of the Year and selected as an MiLB Organization All-Star. In January 2024, MLB Pipeline ranked Mervis number six on its Top 10 First Baseman Prospects list.
International Career
Mervis played for the Israeli national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, representing his heritage and gaining valuable international experience against top competition from around the world.
Matthew Jared Mervis Family
Family Background
Mervis comes from a baseball family with strong Jewish heritage. His father is Jeffrey Mervis and his mother is Ellen Van Bergen. His paternal grandmother, Bertina Tina Mervis, was born and raised in Givatayim, Israel, and moved to the United States when she was a young adult, giving Mervis Israeli ancestry. He grew up in Potomac, Maryland, alongside one older brother and a younger sister.
Personal Life
Mervis attended Georgetown Preparatory School in North Bethesda, Maryland, before continuing his academic and athletic career at Duke University. He currently resides in Potomac, Maryland. He remains active on social media under the handle @mervpapa on Instagram.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a transitional year for Mervis as he began the year with the Miami Marlins after being acquired in a trade from the Chicago Cubs in late 2024. He made the Marlins Opening Day roster and got off to a torrid start, hitting six home runs in his first 13 games and tying the Marlins franchise record in the process. His hot start placed him among the league leaders in home runs early in the season.
However, Mervis struggled to maintain that momentum as opposing pitchers adjusted to his approach. He was designated for assignment in late May and ultimately cleared waivers, being sent to Triple-A Jacksonville where he rediscovered his stroke, hitting 13 home runs in limited action. Following his release from the Marlins organization in August, he signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks and continued his Triple-A tenure with the Reno Aces.
Mervis signed with the Washington Nationals in late December 2025, joining the organization where he was once drafted in the 39th round back in 2016. The upcoming season presents an opportunity for Mervis to rebuild his value and earn another opportunity at the major league level. His power potential remains evident, and a healthy season with consistent at-bats could position him for a return to MLB.