When Chicago White Sox rookie Yermin Mercedes went 3-for-3 Saturday night (April 3), he became the first player in Major League Baseball history since 1900 to start the season with eight consecutive hits.
“I never imagined that,” Mercedes told ESPN. “It is great for me. Now, it’s a new day for me. I want to keep doing well and work with my approach. I want to play every day and I’m excited for that.”
The night before (April 2), the Dominican catcher had already made history when he went 5-for-5 in a win against the Los Angeles Angels. With that hot start he became only the third player in 121 years to get five consecutive hits to start their career. The others: Cecil Travis of the Washington Senators in 1933 and Fred Clarke of the Louisville Colonels in 1894.
“I’m so excited right now,” Mercedes told ESPN Friday night. “I don’t even know what to say right now, or what I want to say, but I’m just so happy.”
His streak went to 6-for-6 Saturday night on his first trip to bat when he hit a 421-foot home run off Angels’ pitcher Alex Cobb. Mercedes then hit a ground ball single and a double to deep left-center to get to 8-for-8 over the two games.
“I’m just trying to wait for my pitch and not do too much,” he said Saturday. “Just stay right there and swing hard. It doesn’t matter if it is two strikes or no strikes, I just want to see the ball.”
Former Venezuelan MLB player Ozzie Guillén recognized Mercedes for his incredible start to the season on Twitter. Mercedes thanked him with a trio of prayer emojis.
Mercedes’ streak ended Saturday night when he hit a fly ball during his final at-bat. He went 1-for-5 Sunday night (April 4).