It was not supposed to end like this. Yermin Mercedes had been a revelation for the Chicago White Sox, the AL Rookie of the Month for April 2021 and was leading the league in batting average over the first six weeks. Then Tony La Russa, the unwritten rules of the game, and an inability to let Mercedes be himself ended that.
After La Russa failed to stand up for Mercedes when he was thrown at for hitting a homer on a 3-0 pitch in a blowout, the affable White Sox designated hitter saw his production plummet. He was sent to Triple-A at the beginning of July, never to return before being designated for assignment.
Former Chicago White Sox sensation Yermin Mercedes finds a new home
Now Mercedes has a new home. He has been claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants and was optioned down to Triple-A. However, just the fact that Mercedes was able to leave the White Sox behind was a cause for celebration.
It remains to be seen as to what the Giants’ plans for Mercedes will be. While he has been solid with the bat throughout his time in the minors, he does not have a true position on the diamond. He has spent time behind the plate in the minors, but has also seen action at first, third, left, and right. The problem is that he has not exactly been useful defensively at any of those spots.
But it helps that he is now with a team that will find a way to maximize his abilities. The Giants have one of the better front offices in the game and a coaching staff that will let their players be themselves.
That appears to be what Mercedes needs. He thrived after catching La Russa’s eye and becoming a favorite after a strong spring training, only to end up in the doghouse due to some archaic principle only the White Sox manager cares about. By ending up with a team that cares about their players and lets them be who they are, Mercedes may have ended up in the best place possible for him to continue his career.
Yermin Mercedes has put the Chicago White Sox in the rearview mirror and is joining the San Francisco Giants. He could not be happier about this new chapter.