Yesterday, it was suggested that the Brewers outfielder/designated hitter might be Christian Yelich he may face surgery after the end of the season. That scenario doesn't seem to be off the table right now, with Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reporting on X that Yelich will try to rest and rehab for now, but surgery in the offseason “is still very possible.”
The Brewers placed their star and former MVP on the 10-day injured list yesterday with lower back inflammation. At the time it was reported that the 32-year-old would see a spine specialist today for what could be season-ending surgery, although it appears the specialist has given Yelich hope for a return this season.
The lower back has been an ongoing issue for Yelich, as he went on the IL due to issues with that part of his body in 2014, 2015, 2021 and now again in 2024. “I have faced it a lot during my career. ,” Yelich said yesterday, via MLB.com's Adam McCalvy on X . “I feel like it has affected me in a negative way at times. I was able to play at a high level but it's one of those things that have been held back a little bit, that's where it got boring. What will you do? But then again, there's a possibility that I'll finally be able to get you on the other side of this, eventually, when it's all said and done. We will see. It remains to be seen, I suppose. “
Based on those comments from Yelich, there seems to be a belief that surgery may put the problem behind him. Even so, it's understandable why he might try to postpone it, at least for a few months. The Brewers are currently 59-43 and have a six-game lead over the Cardinals in the National League Central. Given the conditions of the team, it is understandable that he would want to pursue the opportunity to return to play the playoffs and then the playoffs.
Even when he's not 100% healthy, he's usually the best player on the field when he's on it. He won the National League MVP in 2018 and was outstanding in 2019. In those two seasons, he hit 80 home runs and slashed .327/.415/.631 with a wRC+ of 170. He also stole 52 bases and played all three. foreign positions. He averaged 14.2 wins over a replacement over that two-year span, per FanGraphs.
He then had a bit of a dip in 2020 and 2021, hitting .234/.360/.392 during that time with a 106 wRC+, but has been on an upward trajectory since then. His wRC+ jumped to 111 in 2022 and 122 last year, before reaching 155 here in 2024. He has hit 11 home runs and is drawing walks in 12.7% of his plate appearances, resulting in a .315/.406/. 504 call line. You swiped 21 bags again.
Getting that kind of production back in the lineup later in the year will obviously be a priority for the Brewers. Currently, they have an external mix that includes Sal Frelick, Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell again Blake Perkins. The designated hitter slot can be shared Rhys Hoskins, Gary Sanchez and others.
Even if he is able to come back this year, it is still possible that he will have to go under the knife in the future. Whether that affects his first season or his 2025 campaign remains to be seen. His deal with the Brewers runs through 2028 with a similar option for 2029.
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