This is just perfect. I guess it’s what you get when you set up a shot in front of a Matt Mervis at bat.
Here’s Marquee’s Lance Brozdowski, getting ready to roll in Arizona, when he’s interrupted by the Mervis blast just over his shoulder:
Expectedly unexpected?
Here’s a look at the Mervis blast from a couple more traditional angles:
Mervis is hitting .308/.364/.744 in the AFL this year, after a very full minor league season at High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A.
I thought it was interesting in the MLB Pipeline Podcast that Mervis suggested the reason he was sent to the AFL was to get used to a longer, big-league-ish-length season (h/t Cubs Insider): “I was a little tired towards the end of the year and that’s just because I haven’t played a season like this before. Coming from college, it’s a little more spread out. And then last year, I only played about 70-something games, so I’ve played almost twice as many at this point this year. But if I’m going to be in the big leagues and hopefully take the Cubs deep into the playoffs, then this is the season I’m going to have to do. So just get my body used to it.”
Keep your head on a swivel, for Matt Mervis homers behind you, and also for him possibly making waves in the big leagues next year.