White Sox’s Yermín Mercedes returns with the AAA team shortly after announcing he is quitting baseball

Chicago White Sox rookie design-forward Yermin Mercedes is back in the team’s Triple-A affiliate, just a day after hinting on his Instagram account that he was taking time off from the sport.

According to James Fegan of The AthleticMercedes is not only with the Charlotte Knights ahead of their Thursday game against the Durham Bulls, but he’s also in uniform and on the active roster. Mercedes had posted an image saying “it’s over” Wednesday night, along with an apology caption. This message is now deleted.

Mercedes returned to Instagram on Thursday, saying he “will never give up.”

Mercedes has been one of the biggest stories in the opening weeks of the 2021 season. The 28-year-old produced .415 / .455 / .659 through the end of April with five homers and 34 hits. in 22 games. Fifteen of those hits came in his first six games of the season. He also became the first player in modern MLB history to start his career with eight straight hits. As a result, Mercedes was named the AL Rookie of the Month for April.

However, Mercedes’ decline began soon after. In May, he hit .221 / .292 .326 with two homers in 28 games, and manager Tony La Russa sparked controversy after criticizing Mercedes for hitting a homerun on a 3-0 pitch from one player. of position launching into a rash. In June, Mercedes’ slash line dropped to .159 / .221 / .190 in 18 games. In early July, the White Sox demoted him to triple A Charlotte.

He has been producing at a high level since his expulsion, but Mercedes doesn’t have an obvious path to the majors as of yet. Without a doubt, this contributed to his apparent frustration. Right now, Gavin Sheets and Jake Burger are splitting their time at DH, and possible returns from injured outfielders Eloy Jiménez and Luis Robert could lead to a tightening of the roster.

The White Sox initially acquired Mercedes from the Baltimore Orioles during the minor-league phase of the 2017 Rule 5 Draft. During her twisty journey to MLB, Mercedes spent part of nine seasons in the minors, including two. passes in an independent unaffiliated balloon. If this is indeed the end for Mercedes, then he concludes his MLB career with a .270 / .327 / .402 line with seven home runs and 65 hits in 69 games for the White Sox.