Chicago White Sox: Five big takeaways from the first five games

2 – Yermin Mercedes is a Beast

Overnight, Yermin Mercedes went from an unknown prospect fighting for a roster spot to a nationally recognized household name. Everyone woke up, saw the highlights, and fell in love with the Yerminator.

Unbeknownst to ESPN, Mercedes made his debut last season against the Royals. It was nothing particularly memorable as he grounded out to second base but he would follow that up by going eight for his next eight at-bats.

With the injury to Eloy Jimenez, Mercedes squeezed his way onto the 26-man roster and earned his first starting job in just his second game of MLB action.

Batting eighth in the lineup, Mercedes recorded his first major league hit on a solid line drive to center. Future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols handed the ball the Mercedes at first and gave him a nudge in the chest, something I’m sure he’ll always treasure.

The Mercedes-Train did not stop there. Once the nerves of recording the first hit went away, the hits kept flowing. A single in the fourth not only made him 2 for 2 but gave him his first two RBIs. A single in the sixth that made him 3 for 3. A single in the eighth made him 4 for 4 and started to draw some national attention. Mercedes finished off his night by hitting a double in the 9th to drive in two more runs.

His tremendous performance earned him another starting gig for game three of the series. Eager to stay in the lineup, Mercedes cranked out his first home run in his first at-bat. After a sharp single in the fourth and an RBI double in the sixth, he became 8 for 8 to start the season which is something no one in the modern age of baseball has done.

As the White Sox prepares for a season without Eloy Jimenez, someone needed to step up with the bat in either that left-field spot or at DH. Yermin Mercedes answered the call and so far has been that guy. It’s exciting to see what more he has in stock.