10 QUESTIONS WITH A KNIGHT

Yermín Mercedes’ 2019 season has been one to remember. In his

second season in the Chicago White Sox organization, the 26-year-
old catcher is having a career year. After starting the season with
Double-A Birmingham, he was named a Southern League All-
Star before a promotion to Charlotte on June 20. Since then, the
Dominican native has been one of the Knights’ most powerful
hitters, with his towering home runs delighting fans at BB&T
Ballpark. Recently, Mercedes talked about his transition to life as
an athlete in America and what he needs to do to match his early
success in the Queen City.

Q1: What was the hardest adjustment to life in the U.S.?

A: The most difficult thing for me was being with people you don’t
know. You’re in the states, you don’t know anything or anyone. You
don’t know how to do whatever you want to. It’s hard for the first
year as a player. Especially with the food, you never know what to
eat. In my country, it’s not the same food. It’s very difficult because
the first time you never know how you’re going to do when you get
here.

Q2: You originally signed with the Washington Nationals, then

went to the Baltimore Orioles, now you’re with the White Sox. How
challenging was switching teams and do you think you’ve found a
home with the White Sox?
A: It’s hard. You’re with a different team, you don’t know a lot of
guys and a lot of pitchers. How do you do your job on the team that
you play for? If the White Sox want me to, I’m going to stay here.
Playing for the team right now, I’m feeling great. It’s just making
the most of your opportunity where you are, enjoying it, and having
fun with the guys.

Q3: Can you play any other position besides catcher?

A: I was a first baseman when I started to play in the Dominican.
After I signed with the Nationals, the team wanted me to catch
because I had good hands. I said I’d do it. I always played first, third,
and outfielder growing up.

Q4: What was the best part about being named a Southern League
All-Star?
A: Being with my Dominican friends at the game. We had a lot of

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fun, took a lot of pictures. They were cheering me on. That felt good
because I was with my teammates and I felt great in that park in
Biloxi.

Q5: How did you react to your promotion to Triple-A?

A: I was very happy. I was at the hotel when (Double-A Birmingham
Manager) Omar Vizquel called me. He told me I had to grab all of my
stuff and go to Charlotte. I said, “Oh, wow!” It was awesome because
it’s Triple-A, it’s almost the big leagues and I was very excited.

Q6: What was your first impression when you joined the Knights?
A: The fans here are great. It’s a nice stadium, a great city, and I
really like it here. The team has made me feel welcome in Charlotte.
It’s a beautiful view when you go here.

Q7: Your were off to a great start at the plate with the Knights, what
made you so successful?
A: It felt really good because I did my job well that first week. The
coaches believe in me so they keep giving me playing time. I knew I
could play and do a lot of things on the field so coming to Triple-A,
they are playing me, and I need to keep doing that.

Q8: What’s your approach when you go to the plate?

A: Crush the ball. I don’t want to take an easy swing. I want to hit the
ball hard every time.

Q9: What was the toughest adjustment from Double-A to Triple-A?

A: The most important thing is with the pitchers. It’s a little hard
because you have now big league pitchers, pitchers with more
experience. You need to focus a little more with them, talk to them
about how they want to work, how they like me to catch the ball
and what pitches to throw.

Q10: You have over 330,000 followers on Instagram, what made you
so popular?
A: It’s all in the Dominican. A few years ago my team, Tigres del
Licey, went to the Winter League finals. I did a lot of things there
that they liked. The fans liked how I was hitting, how I play, how I
hustle, I do my job, and in the Domincan the people like to see that.
They want to see us play well in winter ball, so we went to the finals
and it was an awesome experience. Our franchise is one of the most
popular in the Dominican, so we had a lot of support.

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