Rookie Yermin Mercedes sets major league record
Fred Jeter | 4/29/2021, 6 p.m.
It took Yermin Mercedes 11 years to work his way up to the big leagues. And when the green light finally arrived, he hit the gas and sped into the spotlight.
The 28-year-old Chicago White Sox’s designated hitter set a major league record with eight straight hits to start the season against the Los Angeles Angels.
The eight hits included two doubles, a 421-foot home run and six runs batted in.
The native of the Dominican Republic signed his first pro contract at age 18 and spent time in the Washington and Baltimore organization before getting picked up by Chicago.
He has played on at least 15 minor league teams covering 812 games in the United States and Caribbean combined.
The White Sox rookie turned out to be no one-weekend sensation.
Through games of April 24, Mercedes was leading the American League in hitting (27-for-63, .429) with four homers and 15 RBIs.
In a 9-7 Chicago win over the Texas Rangers on April 23, Mercedes was 4-for-4 with a double and three RBIs.
