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White Sox' Mercedes earns AL Player of the Week after historic start

Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images Sport / Getty

No one had a better opening weekend than Chicago White Sox designated hitter Yermin Mercedes.

The 28-year-old rookie was named the American League Player of the Week on Monday after becoming the first player in the modern era to open a season with eight straight hits.

Altogether, Mercedes went 9-for-14 with a home run and six RBIs over three games against the Los Angeles Angels.

Mercedes has been something of a journeyman, toiling away in the minor-league systems for the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles before being picked up by the White Sox.

However, he's never really struggled with the bat. He hit .302/.366/.491 with 83 home runs and 390 RBIs over eight seasons in the minors. He hit .310 with 17 homers in 53 games at Triple-A in 2019.

Mercedes had only one career at-bat at the MLB level prior to his remarkable start in 2021.

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