Mercedes (8 straights hits) sets major-league record in Sox's loss to Angels
Yermin Mercedes toiled for seven long seasons in the minor leagues.
He logged another year in independent ball, splitting the 2014 season between the San Angelo Colts, Douglas Diablos and - wait for it - the White Sands Pupfish.
Mercedes finally made it to the major leagues last season, getting all of 1 at-bat for the White Sox.
Heading into this year, he was ranked No. 40 by Baseball America on the Sox's list of top prospects, and Mercedes wasn't given much of a chance to break spring training on the major-league roster.
Look at him now.
"I just want to cry every time when I see I'm in the majors right now," Mercedes said after going 5-for-5 Friday night in his first start with the White Sox. "I want to cry because it's been a long time, a long time. I've got a big history. It's about time, but it's hard for me. Just looking around I'm like, 'Is this real?'"
Oh, it's real. Very real.
Apparently not satisfied after becoming the first player in history to go 5-for-for-5 in his first major-league start, the 28-year-old catcher/designated hitter kept rolling against the Angels Saturday night.
The Sox did not, playing another sloppy defensive game and blowing a late lead in a 5-3 loss to Los Angeles.
The 5-foot-11, 245-pound Mercedes hit a solo home run in his first at-bat, singled the next time up and he came through with an RBI double in his third trip to the plate.
Looking to open the season 9-for-9, Mercedes flied out to center field in his fourth at-bat. The 8 straights hits to open the season is a major-league record.
"I never imagined that, 8 straight hits in the majors," Mercedes said. "It's great for me, getting 8 hits in a row. Now, it's a new day for me. I just want to keep going."
The Dominican Republic native worried so long about just making it to the majors. Now, he's trying to make it difficult for manager Tony La Russa to keep him out of the lineup.
"I think he was upset when he made the out," La Russa said. "And it's clutch, it's not just for show. He's put us in a good position to win. He won one yesterday, we should have won today. I take my hat off to him, pat him on the back, whatever it takes."
The White Sox's defense deserves no applause.
The Angels scored 2 unearned runs off Sox starter Lance Lynn in the third inning after center fielder Luis Robert (drop) and right fielder Adam Eaton (throw) made errors on the same Anthony Rendon flyball.
Through three games, the White Sox defense has been burned for 7 unearned runs.
"I just think it gives you something to work on, pay attention to," La Russa said. "Overall, it wasn't a very clean game. A lot of places there where we could have done more, or less."
After such a difficult journey to reach the White Sox, Mercedes is enjoying life at the top.
"At some points I just wanted to give up," Mercedes said. "I just wanted to say, 'I don't want to play anymore.' But my family, my father, my mom, said 'Hey, you can do it, keep working. You can do it. We trust in you because we know who you are.'"