White Sox DH Yermin Mercedes named AL Player of the Week

White Sox designated hitter Yermín Mercedes, who made history in the opening series of the 2021 season, was named American League Player of the Week on Monday for the period of April 1-4.

Mercedes, 28, went 9-for-14 (.643) with a home run, two doubles, six RBI and two runs scored in three games last week. He became the first player to start a season with eight consecutive hits, breaking the previous mark set by Cincinnati’s Chris Stynes (seven) in 2007.

Mercedes went 5-for-5 with a double and four RBI on Friday against the Angels and had hits in his first three plate appearances Saturday, including a homer in his first at-bat.

The 5-for-5 start was the first by any player in his first career start, and Mercedes joined Washington’s Cecil Travis (5-for-7) in a game against Cleveland in 1933 as the only players in the modern era with five hits in his first start.

He fell two hits shy of the Sox record for consecutive hits, and he became the first designated hitter in club history to get five hits in a game.

The last Sox rookie to earn a weekly honor was Eloy Jiménez in September 2019.

“Every day is another day,” Mercedes said last week of his record breaking performance. “Don’t focus on ‘Oh, I had five hits today’ or ‘Oh, I’m happy.’ No, today is passed. Keep doing the best I can do on the plate. Keep working hard.”

Alternate site squad

The Sox will host the Cubs alternate team for five games (April 13, 19, 24, 28 and 30), the first four at their Schamuburg site and the April 30 game at Guaranteed Rate Field.

The Sox travel to the Cubs alternate site in South Bend, Ind., on April 15, 17, 21 and 26. Fans will be allowed to attend the April 17 game.

The Sox said “feasibility of safely allowing fans at select games in Schaumburg currently is under consideration, and details will be announced at a future date. The White Sox vs. Cubs alternate squad game at Guaranteed Rate Field on April 19 will not be open to the public.”

Here is the Sox alternate site team:

• RHP (12): Zack Burdi, Ryan Burr, Will Carter, Danny Dopico, Tayron Guerrero, Tyler Johnson, Reynaldo López, Kade McClure, Alex McRae, Connor Sadzeck, Jonathan Stiever and Mike Wright;
• LHP (2): Kodi Medeiros and Nik Turley;
• C (2): Carlos Pérez and Seby Zavala;
• INF (6): Tim Beckham, Marco Hernández, Danny Mendick, Zach Remillard, Matt Reynolds and Gavin Sheets;
• OF (4): Luis González, Mikie Mahtook, Blake Rutherford and Nick Williams.