Bleacher Bums Forum

Interesting that BA has Mervis at #4.

BA also has different view of Mervis’ bat speed than Keith Law’s view of Mervis bat speed.

BA outing report:

Scouting Report: Mervis is a hulking lefthanded hitter with plus raw power. He previously struggled to make enough contact to get to it, but he shortened his swing and honed his approach in 2022 to focus on pitches in the middle-third of the plate, leading to his breakout year. He has excellent bat speed and natural timing, and his improved swing path and selectivity give him a chance to be an average hitter. Mervis can be a touch aggressive on soft stuff below the zone and isn't as dangerous against lefthanders, but he demolishes fastballs, has good strike-zone recognition and keeps his strikeouts low for a power hitter. He mostly pulls the ball and will benefit from the new rules banning shifts in the majors. Mervis' value is tied almost exclusively to his bat. He is a well below-average runner and a below-average--but passable--defender at first base. He has retained the plus-plus arm strength that helped him reach 96 mph as a pitcher in college.

The Future: Mervis projects to be an everyday first baseman who hits for power, a case he amplified by tying for the Arizona Fall League lead with six home runs. His big league debut should come in 2023.