(670 The Score) Growing up in the Dominican Republic, White Sox rookie designated hitter/catcher Yermin Mercedes was a big fan of MLB star second baseman Robinson Cano, one of his fellow countrymen. On occasion, Mercedes would get the chance to watch Cano play at a field about 10 minutes from his house.
"Always my favorite player," Mercedes said.
So you can imagine Mercedes' surprise when, after he became a professional baseball player himself, Cano called to inform him they were actually family.
"I never imagined that Robbie is my cousin," Mercedes said on the Parkins & Spiegel Show on Thursday. "Did you know that?"
No, we didn't. Really?
"Yeah, Cano is my cousin, because he got Mercedes from his mom (side)," Mercedes said. "We're family. He's my cousin. I never believed that until 2019 or 2018, something like that, when I went to (Class-A) Winston-Salem.
He called me, asking me, 'Hey, I need to ask you something. Are you my cousins? Because I'm Mercedes too. Where is your family from in the Domincan? What place? Oh, yeah, we're cousins.'
"I was like, 'Oh yeah, really?' I was emotional at that time."
The White Sox acquired Mercedes, who's now 28, in the Rule 5 draft in late 2017 after his previous stints with the Nationals and Orioles organizations didn't pan out. After working his way through the White Sox's farm system in recent years, Mercedes earned a roster spot in spring training and has quickly established himself as a key contributor and fan favorite. He made MLB history by starting the season 8-for-8, becoming the first player in the modern era (since 1900) to accomplish that feat. He's hitting .565 with a 1.409 OPS in his first five games.
Cano, 38, is an eight-time All-Star who was one of the best players in MLB for a decade. He's currently suspended for the entire 2021 season for a violating MLB's performance-enhancing drug policy. Mercedes' hope is to keep hitting like Cano always did, and the two keep in touch.
"It's in the family," Mercedes said.
