White Sox journeyman Mercedes records 5 hits in 1st MLB start
It took a while to get there, but Yermin Mercedes' first career start in Major League Baseball was historic.
The 28-year-old catcher became the first player in Chicago White Sox history to record five hits in his first start, going 5-for-5 with four RBIs and one double.
He is the second player of the modern era to record five hits in their first career start, joining Cecil Travis, who did so back in 1933, according to Stats by STATS.
Why get just your 1st career hit when you can get your first 5?!#ChangetheGame x #CarryTheFreight pic.twitter.com/yuNrAC4s44
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) April 3, 2021
Mercedes is a career journeyman. He signed with the Washington Nationals out of the Dominican Republic as an unheralded prospect in 2011 before landing in independent leagues. Mercedes then struggled to earn promotions after joining the Baltimore Orioles organization in 2015, floundering primarily at High-A.
The White Sox added him to their system in 2018. This spring, Mercedes earned an invite to camp and impressed immediately, going 13-for-47 with three doubles. Prior to Opening Day, the White Sox picked Mercedes for the major-league roster to work as the team's third catcher behind Yasmani Grandal and Zack Collins.
Mercedes had one previous at-bat in the bigs in 2020.