(AUDACY) It has been a roller coaster of a season for 28-year-old White Sox rookie Yermin Mercedes, who burst onto the scene to start the season but was demoted to Triple-A earlier in July after prolonged struggles.
Mercedes appeared as if he was going to retire from baseball when he posted "It's over" on Instagram last Wednesday, but he remains on the Triple-A roster and even homered for Triple-A Charlotte on Friday night.
Mercedes was also the center of controversy in May when he hit a home run off a Twins position player on a 3-0 count late a blowout win, drawing manager Tony La Russa's ire and igniting a debate over the unwritten rules of baseball.
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Now, Mercedes is still catching criticism, this time from former White Sox manager and current analyst Ozzie Guillen. On the La Vida Baseball podcast, Guillen ripped Mercedes for acting like he is some sort of star.
“You’re not Shohei (Ohtani), you’re not (Jose) Abreu," Guillen said. "You’re not Tim Anderson. You are a cheeseburger kid, fat boy. You’re lucky to be in the big leagues. You’re lucky some people got hurt and you had a great start to the season.”
Guillen later added, “He’s lucky I’m not managing the White Sox, because he’d never wear that uniform.”
Guillen specifically referenced the home run Mercedes hit off Twins infielder Willians Astudillo on the 3-0 pitch back in May, defending La Russa.
“La Russa played this kid 200 at-bats after that happened,” Guillen said. “He hit .110 after that happened. I interviewed this kid a couple days before he was sent down and he confused me. When he (said), 'People pay to watch me play,' I didn’t even hear those words from Frank Thomas.”
“Everybody blame Tony La Russa, everyone,” Guillen continued. “(But) nobody blame this kid. He’s a great kid, he’s confused, everybody have problems in baseball off the field. And this kid comes out doing this? Please, you’re not a prospect. You’re not.”
Mercedes has been playing well in Triple-A. In 17 games there, he's hitting .308/.366/.646 with five home runs and 11 RBIs.
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