It was just three months ago that MLB on FOX analyst A.J. Pierzynski was chilling with Pope Leo XIV, handing over the final out ball from Game 1 of the 2005 Fall Classic. Turns out, the pontiff, a lifelong White Sox fan, already knew who his 2005 World Series-winning catcher was. Now, that same White Sox team, the South Siders, are back in the postseason for the first time in five years, snatching the final wild-card spot and setting up an October ride for Pope Leo and the faithful.
Enjoy the Ride, Kid
Dude, Pierzynski knows a thing or two about grinding it out. He debuted with the Twins at 21, but didn’t even sniff the postseason until he was 25. Now, here comes 20-year-old Padres catcher Ethan Salas, about to be the youngest backstop ever to play a postseason game. Pierzynski’s advice? “Just enjoy the moment,” he said. “Be excited to be there because you never know how many chances you’re going to get in the postseason.” He remembers thinking the Twins would make it every year after 2002 and 2003, only to find out it’s way harder than it looks. He actually missed in 2004, won it all in 2005, and then thought, “this playoff thing is easy.” Yeah, right. It seemed like forever before he made it back after that.
Soak It All In, For Real
It’s wild, but even after winning a World Series over 20 years ago, Pierzynski wishes he could’ve just stepped back and soaked it all in a bit more. “When you’re in it, you’re so in it and you’re so focused on the task at hand that you don’t really get that second to just look around and say, Wow, this is pretty amazing,” he explained. That’s why he tells Salas to lean on veterans like Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts, guys who’ve been through the trenches. He also got to experience the 2008 season when both the White Sox and the Cubs made the playoffs. He’s played in Red Sox-Yankees, Dodgers-Giants, Cardinals-Cubs matchups, but for him, nothing beats that Chicago crosstown energy when both teams are rolling. He called it the “most fun and most electric rivalry” he was ever a part of, especially those six regular season games every year.
So, as the White Sox gear up for their first postseason battle in five years, it’s not just the fans, or even the Pope, who are watching. It’s guys like Pierzynski, who’ve seen it all, remembering to tell the next generation to just soak it in. For Salas, heading into the deepest parts of October baseball, Pierzynski’s words are a pure gold playbook for navigating that high-wire act of intense focus and enjoying the ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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