It’s May 16 on the South Side of Chicago. Just east of the historic neighborhood of Bridgeport, Guaranteed Rate Field howls with enthusiasm. An announced crowd of nearly 10,000 produces cheers that reverberate throughout the ballpark on a quintessential Chicago spring day. “Let’s Go White Sox!” chants circle around in rhythm like an expertly conducted philharmonic. The shadow of the Chicago skyline wanes in the distance beyond left-center field.
The White Sox trail the Royals 3–2 in the bottom of the eighth inning. José Abreu leads off first base as the tying run. Yermín Mercedes—“The Yerminator”—stands in the right-handed batter’s box.