Welcome to record books, Yermin Mercedes.
The Chicago White Sox rookie received three hits on Saturday in his first three bat-bats against the Los Angeles Angels to improve to 8-for-8 to start 2021, the most consecutive hits for to start a season of any player in the modern era (since 1900).
Mercedes, who had a major league fight entering the season, going 0-1 in 2020, started the last two games at DH and tortured the Angels with its two-shot hit – five of the eight two-hit hits came .
After winning the second half on Saturday for his first round of his career on Saturday, Mercedes’ eighth consecutive shot came in the sixth half, a double that jumped off the warning track in the center left.
“I’m just trying to wait for my pitch and not do too much,” Mercedes said after the White Sox lost 5-3. “Stay there and tie hard. It doesn’t matter if it’s two shots or not, I just want to see the ball.”
The eight hits:
Friday
Saturday
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6. 421-foot home ran a 2-2 splitter from Alex Cobb
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7. The ball from the ground is removed by 1-2 dives from Cobb
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8. Double to deep, center left on a 1-0 dive at Cobb
In his ninth shot, Mercedes flew in midfield to end his line. He finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run marked on Saturday.
“All his successes were clutch and he put us in a position to try to win,” said manager Tony LaRussa. “He had an excellent approach, especially with two strikes.”
Mercedes is a 28-year-old rookie who has returned to around three organizations, originally signed by nationals and who spent time with the Orioles before the White Sox signed him in 2018. He was not expected to be a part important of the group, but the injury of Eloy Jimenez opened the playing time, with DH Andrew Vaughn designed to start the last two games on the left field.
LaRussa said Mercedes should have the night off on Saturday, but that it won its way in line with its 5 for 5 night.
Mercedes has spent most of her time in the minor leagues of catcher, but has a career minor league average of .302, and in 2019, she hit .317 / .388 / .581 with 23 home runs. in 95 games between Double-A and Triple-A.
“I never imagined that. It’s great for me,” Mercedes said of her debut. “Now, it’s a new day for me. I want to do well and work with my approach. I want to play every day and I’m excited about it.”
Before Mercedes, the only player from 1900 to get five hits in his early career was Cecil Travis, who won 5-for-7 for the Washington Senators in 1933.
The overall record for consecutive hits at any time of a season is 12, shared by Johnny Kling (1902) and two Red Sox players, Pinky Higgins (1938) and Walt Dropo (1952).