Entering the season, few outside of the most dedicated baseball circles knew the name Yermín Mercedes. Major League Baseball as a whole was grappling with a concerning trend: a league-wide batting average plummeting to a historic low of .236, the worst since 1901. Pitchers seemed to have the upper hand, baffling hitters with velocity and movement. Yet, amidst this league-wide offensive struggle, one player stood out: Yermín Mercedes of the Chicago White Sox.
After a decade spent grinding in the minor leagues, the 28-year-old Mercedes wasn’t on any prospect radar. An unfortunate injury to Eloy Jiménez opened a door, granting Mercedes a surprising opportunity on the big league roster. And he seized it. Mercedes exploded onto the scene, quickly establishing himself as a hitting machine, boasting an MLB-leading .364 batting average in a season where hits were incredibly hard to come by.
Image alt: Video still of Yermin Mercedes hitting a 485-foot home run, the longest in MLB in 2021, showcasing his powerful hitting ability.
Mercedes isn’t just getting lucky; he’s demonstrating genuine hitting prowess. He finds gaps, hits to all fields, and even defeats defensive shifts. Adding to the spectacle, Mercedes launched the longest home run in MLB in 2021, a monstrous 485-foot blast on April 8th, surpassing even power hitters like Giancarlo Stanton.
The Unwritten Rules and the Astudillo Matchup
The baseball world witnessed an extraordinary and unexpected moment on a Monday night game against the Twins. With the game in a blowout, Minnesota brought in Willians Astudillo, a beloved and unconventional player known for his versatility and jovial spirit, to pitch. Astudillo, not a pitcher by trade, delivered eephus pitches at a leisurely 47 miles per hour. This set the stage for a surreal confrontation: Astudillo’s slow-pitch novelty against the hot bat of Yermín Mercedes.
The result was both hilarious and remarkable. Mercedes connected with one of Astudillo’s gentle offerings and sent it soaring for another home run, a moment of pure, unadulterated baseball joy that resonated with many fans.
Image alt: Video capture of Yermin Mercedes hitting a home run off Twins’ utility player Willians Astudillo, highlighting the unusual and entertaining matchup.
However, not everyone shared in the amusement. The Twins’ broadcast booth, while calling the home run, expressed clear disapproval, stating sternly, “I don’t like it.” Their displeasure stemmed from the “unwritten rules” of baseball, a code of conduct that dictates certain behaviors, particularly in lopsided games. The perceived transgression? Swinging for the fences against a position player pitching in a blowout.
Tony La Russa and the Old Guard
The heart of the issue isn’t really about Yermín Mercedes’s home run itself, but rather the reaction to it, particularly from his own manager, Hall of Famer Tony La Russa. La Russa, known for his traditional baseball philosophies, publicly criticized Mercedes for swinging in that situation, emphasizing the unwritten rules. This sparked immediate controversy, highlighting the growing tension between baseball’s old guard and the evolving perspectives of modern players and fans.
La Russa’s stance seemed particularly jarring given Mercedes’s journey. Here was a player who had toiled for a decade in the minor leagues, finally getting his chance and excelling, only to be reprimanded for playing the game to the best of his ability. As Dan Gartland of Sports Illustrated articulated, “All of baseball’s unwritten rules are stupid, but there’s something especially irritating about the ones that tell you not to try your hardest when the game is out of reach.” In a sport where players’ salaries and careers are heavily influenced by their statistics, asking them to ease up when the game’s outcome seems decided feels inherently unfair.
La Russa announced that Mercedes would face “consequences within our family,” further fueling the debate. He even doubled down by referencing a similar situation involving Fernando Tatis Jr., who was previously criticized for hitting a grand slam in a blowout. While Tatis Jr.’s manager eventually softened his stance after public backlash, La Russa remained firm in his disapproval of Mercedes’s actions.
Image alt: Screenshot of a tweet by Jesse Rogers of ESPN quoting Tony La Russa expressing his disappointment with Yermin Mercedes hitting a home run on a 3-0 count in a blowout game and mentioning “consequences”.
The potential disconnect between La Russa and the young, dynamic White Sox team was a concern voiced by many when he was hired. Craig Calcaterra even presciently predicted such a scenario months prior, anticipating La Russa siding with the opposing manager against his own player.
Mercedes Stands His Ground, Anderson Backs His Teammate
Crucially, Yermín Mercedes refused to apologize. Before La Russa’s public comments, Mercedes declared, “I’m going to play my game. I can’t be another person. If I change, everything is going to change.” This defiance resonated with many, and he quickly found support within his own clubhouse.
Tim Anderson, the White Sox’s charismatic shortstop and team leader, immediately and publicly backed Mercedes. Anderson, known for his own flair and disregard for baseball’s stuffier traditions, posted a clear message of support for Mercedes on social media.
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Image alt: Screenshot of an Instagram post from NBC Sports Chicago showing Tim Anderson standing next to Yermin Mercedes, symbolizing Anderson’s support for his teammate amidst the controversy.
Anderson’s swift and unambiguous support for Mercedes sent a powerful message. It underscored the generational divide and highlighted the players’ perspective on these “unwritten rules.” Anderson himself had previously been at the center of similar debates regarding bat flips and player expression, further solidifying his position as a champion for a more modern, less restrictive baseball culture.
Escalation and Clubhouse Dynamics
The situation escalated further when Twins pitcher Tyler Duffey threw behind Yermín Mercedes in apparent retaliation. Duffey was ejected, but La Russa’s postgame comments were perhaps even more inflammatory. Instead of defending his player, La Russa stated, “I wasn’t that suspicious. I’m suspicious when someone throws at someone’s head. I didn’t have a problem with how the Twins handled that.”
Image alt: Screenshot of a tweet from FOX Sports: MLB announcing Tyler Duffey’s ejection after throwing a pitch behind Yermin Mercedes, sparking further debate about baseball’s unwritten rules.
This response was widely criticized, including by current MLB pitcher Collin McHugh, who called it “hard to believe how bad of a response this is.” La Russa’s seeming indifference to his player being targeted further alienated him from a segment of fans and observers who felt he should be defending Mercedes.
The Real Leader in the White Sox Clubhouse
Despite the off-field drama, the White Sox were winning. They held a strong 25-16 record and a division lead, even with key injuries. Yermín Mercedes’s outstanding performance was a major factor in their success, contributing significantly to their wins. He was part of a core group of White Sox players delivering strong seasons, but Tim Anderson emerged as the undeniable leader.
Anderson’s leadership extended beyond his impressive on-field statistics. He demonstrably had the backing of the clubhouse, standing up for Mercedes and embodying a player-centric approach. From an outside perspective, it appeared clear that Tim Anderson, not Tony La Russa, was the true driving force behind the White Sox’s success and team spirit.
The critical question moving forward was whether Tony La Russa would recognize this evolving dynamic. His rigid adherence to outdated unwritten rules and his public criticism of Yermín Mercedes risked alienating his players and potentially losing control of the clubhouse entirely. The Yermín Mercedes saga became a flashpoint, highlighting the generational clash within baseball and the shifting power dynamics between managers and players in the modern game.
