Matt Mervis is a former Chicago Cubs prospect who many like to point to as an example of why a team shouldn't bank on projection. Earning the nickname "mash" through his ascension through the Cubs' minor-league system, fans thought Mervis was going to be the answer to the void at first base that was created after Anthony Rizzo was traded in 2021.
If anything, Mervis proved why Cubs fans sometimes get ahead of their skis when talking about prospects. It never clicked at the Major League level for Mervis during his time with the Cubs, posting an OPS+ of 46 and -13 in 2023 and 2024.