Solak calls hometown HR 'cool' moment

In 2005, as the White Sox faced the Angels in Game 2 of the ALCS, a 10-year-old Nick Solak watched from “way high up the left-field line” at U.S. Cellular Field as A.J. Pierzynski "stole first base" -- reaching on a dropped third strike that really wasn't -- before Chicago walked off in the ninth to tie the series at one game apiece.

Fifteen years later, Solak returned to that same ballpark, now renamed Guaranteed Rate Field, and smacked a two-run homer off of White Sox pitcher Dylan Cease in the Rangers' 9-7 loss on Friday night.

Growing up just 20 minutes from the ballpark, the Woodridge, Ill., native said he still has a ton of family and friends in the area. The 12th home run of his career felt even more special since he had his own personal cheering section.

“It's cool to be at a place I watched so many games growing up, and then to hit a home run,” Solak said. “I had a group of friends. They rented a suite. And after I hit the home run, they're going pretty crazy. I think they're making some of the White Sox fans upset.”

From the dugout, some of Solak’s teammates joked that it looked like his friends were going to fall out of the suite.

“I got some cool videos of my friends and the suite of them going crazy, it's funny,” he said. “I mean, it's just cool to hit the homer and round the bases.”

Being back at this ballpark felt like a full-circle moment for Solak, who besides three games in 2019, had only “ran around the field” at camps when he was young.

Though the players he watched and idolized growing up -- Scott Podsednik, Paul Konerko and Mark Buehrle -- won’t be sitting in the opposing dugout, Solak said playing in Chicago is something he will never forget.

Solak, who batted second in Saturday night’s game, has been on a tear recently. After a slow start to the season, he owns a .333/.481/.619 slash line across the last seven games.

“I'll hit anywhere in the lineup, I think, if there's a righty in front of me, I kind of watch and see how they attack that guy,” Solak said. “Like yesterday, I can watch how the pitcher attacks him and kind of get an idea how he's gonna attack another right-handed hitter and kind of help formulate my plan based on that.”

Manager Chris Woodward said that he feels like everything is starting to click for the 26-year-old. Not only is Solak making contact with the ball, but he is also hitting well when facing fastballs.

“There comes a point where, you know, no matter how hard the fastball is, a straight fastball is a straight fastball,” said Solak when asked what makes him good at hitting against high-velocity pitches. “You know, that's just a pitch I've handled, I've worked on it. I love hitting the fastball machine. See how hard I can handle off that. But it's just kind of something that I've always worked on and is one of my strengths.”

And, of course, the Windy City native was asked what his go-to pizza spot is when he’s visiting his hometown. The answer: He is a Giordano's guy for deep dish, while the rest of his family swears by Lou’s.