Mervis emerged as one of baseball’s top prospects in  2022 when he hit 36 home runs at three levels of minor-league ball, leading all minor leagues in extra-base hits, total bases and RBIs. He was called up by the Cubs on May 5, 2023 after hitting .286 with six homers and 27 RBIs in 24 games at Triple-A Iowa. He made his major-league debut the same day and hit an RBI single in a 4-1 victory over the Miami Marlins.

Matt was originally drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 39th round in 2016 but did not sign. He played four years at Duke as a first baseman, third baseman and pitcher, then signed with the Cubs as an undrafted free agent. He played for Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.