TODAY: The Brewers are hopeful that Yelich may be able to return to the roster before the end of the week, per Jon Morosi of the MLB Network (via Twitter). That would be a pretty sizable pickup for the Brewers, who sit atop the NL Central despite numerous injuries on the offensive side of the ball.
APRIL 25: Yelich’s MRI didn’t reveal any structural damage, Counsell told Tom Haudricourt (Twitter link) and other reporters. The MRI “was to rule out anything and get another piece of information. We ruled out anything significant,” Counsell said.
APRIL 24: Christian Yelich hasn’t played since April 11 due to a lower back strain that eventually led to an injured list placement on April 17. Since that placement was backdated to April 14, Yelich was eligible to be activated today, though Brewers manager Craig Counsell said yesterday that Yelich wouldn’t make an immediate return.
Counsell’s latest update today is a little more concerning, as the skipper told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter links) and other reporters that Yelich would receive an MRI on his ailing back. Yelich has “hit a plateau” in his recovery process, as Counsell put it, and the MRI will allow all parties “to get more information” on the outfielder’s condition.
Yelich has been dealing with lingering back issues for a few years, including a minor bout of soreness during Spring Training that caused him to miss a few Cactus League games. The fact that Yelich’s back is still bothering him after close to two weeks is certainly cause for further examination, and the hope is that the MRI won’t reveal a more longer-term problem.
Plagued by minor injuries and just a lack of timing in 2020, even the “off-year” version of Yelich was still good enough to contribute a 111 OPS+/113 wRC+ and a .205/.356/.430 slash line over 247 plate appearances last season. While not back to his MVP-level form of the 2018-19 seasons, Yelich was showing some improvement (though a lack of power) over 2020’s numbers in his first few games this year, hitting .333/.459/.367 over his first 37 PA.
Avisail Garcia also isn’t playing today due to a sore back, adding to the Brewers’ injury woes in the outfield with Yelich, Lorenzo Cain, Derek Fisher, and utilitymen Jace Peterson and Tim Lopes all on the 10-day IL. Jackie Bradley Jr. is the only regular left for Milwaukee, with Billy McKinney and Tyrone Taylor picking up the slack for their sidelined teammates.
Dude would’ve been a HOFer if not for career-long back issues.
He is still young, he still can be a hall of famer. I think he needs to be moved to first base honestly, he isn’t a good defender out in the field and with his history should be moved to preserve his bat (and back)
Good call. And Hiura sucks as well.
Your probably the same old lady who said burnes sucks back in the 2019 season aren’t you?
He won a gold glove in the outfield.
Not even 30 yet, little early to close the book on the HOF.
Don Mattingly says hi
He was amazing when he’s cheating
Sure, but that’s in a perfect world thinking. Things like frame, durability and playing style certainly go into player evaluations and eventual decisions.
Lincecum and Prior would be a HOFs too, but that’s why you look for the ability and the body type, which has stood the scouting test of time, from Clemens to Giolito and Aaron to Trout.
this man really just put lucas giolito in the same sentence as Clemens, Aaron and Trout
He could’ve used deGrom, Sale or Kerahaw but went with Lucas Giolito ♂️
One of the leagues best hitters. Hope not chronic. Goo Angels!
Ron,
Maybe ‘the chronic’ is just what he needs to ease the pain?
Oh snap! Christian ain’t cool enough though to hang with the big kids. He still looks 16.
This isn’t a play 162 games league anymore. Zero dl stints means 130-135 starts. Also Huira is a great hitter. He’ll be batting .300 by allstar break time
He is a career .251 hitter with .8 WAR in 585 career ABs. The new deader ball isnt helping him either. He needs to readjust his swing to it.
GiannisandYelich123 –
Hilarious. Thanks for the good laugh. He’s hitting roughly .200 over his last 75 games. Wanna put any money on that? Didn’t think so.
He is looking at a herniated disc in my professional opinion.
Can you take a look at my VCR unit? It hasn’t been working since Titanic’s double box tape release.
Did you try blowing in it?
Veg,
I don’t know. My cousin knows this guy who says he’ll be fine.
Bummer. He’s been one of my favorite players since his Marlins days.
Will be interesting to see how much value the Brewers get in those tacked on years.
The comments are funny. Should we just write his obituary now?
Back issues do not tend to get better when you age…
would love to see Taylor get some more starts
Stick a fork in him. Done.
Geez, you guys act like u never bought a bucket of golf balls before the rest of the guys show up for the round. You whack that whole bucket and realize pretty quickly that the twisting motion takes it out of you pretty quickly. Then you proceed to suck on all of your drives.
Yeli had been hitting the batting cage a lot trying to work out his swing, but he’s realizing that age has its affects. Moderation is the key, and I’d imagine he’s figuring that out. Well let’s say I hope he’s figuring it out anyway…
So the history of back problems is totally unrelated to this back problem and it’s just cuz he was taking too much bp? I’m a big fan of Yelich as well, but you seem to be really downplaying what this could mean for him. I hope you’re right, but I don’t think so.
Woodruff is putting the team on his back.
Woodruff / Burnes / JP / Hader…basically all the pitchers as well. Havent seen a brewers pitching staff this deep and this lights out.
JP is looking like a future closer right now.
There is a sort of “swagger” coming from the pitching staff that they could and should win any game. The defense is pretty good. The offense isn’t hitting on all cylinders. Watching JBJ and Hiura strike out every other at bat is maddening. There’s a lot to like about this team.