Brewers: Top 10 Christian Yelich Moments As A Brewer
The 2018 NL MVP turns 28 today and in honor of Milwaukee’s favorite right fielder, we’re going to take a look at the top 10 favorite moments of Christian Yelich.
It’s no secret that Christian Yelich exceeded expectations when joining the Milwaukee Brewers in January of 2018. A trade from the Miami Marlins, the numbers Yelich was putting up in Miami don’t even begin to amount to what he has put up in Milwaukee, which earned him the NL MVP title in 2018, along with his back-to-back batting titles, silver sluggers, and Hank Aaron Awards.
With that said, it is Christian Yelich’s birthday today on December 5th, and to celebrate, let’s look back on our favorite Yelich moments since he joined the Brewers.
10. The Time He Got a Fan a Puppy
“Yelich, hit a home run and my dad buys me a puppy!” A little girl by the name of Lola went viral after she held up a sign at a game versus the Cardinals in Milwaukee that said if Yelich hit a home run, she would get a puppy. And that he did. First inning, second pitch to Yelich, he hit a bomb and two weeks later, Lola got her puppy. The family decided to name the puppy “Yeli”, and Christian even gave it to her himself.
How can you not love puppies and baseball? What could be better than getting a puppy? Having Christian Yelich deliver that puppy to you.
9. The Time He Homered at The All Star Game
Being the first Brewer since 2011 (Prince Fielder), to hit a homerun at the All Star Game, Yelich went yard against Astros pitcher Charlie Morton to help bring the NL 5-3 in the eighth. The American League ended up winning in extra innings, but, it was still a huge moment for Yelich.
Really it was after the All-Star Game that year that Yelich really took off. He did fine in the first half, for sure. But he had a monster second half that earned him the MVP award, and it all started with this home run in the Midsummer Classic.
8. The Time He Earned A Walk Off Win Against the Cubs
September 7th, 2019 is probably a memorable game for many Brewers fans. In his first four plate appearances, Yelich singled and walked three times. Not only that, but he became the first player to hit 40 HR/30 SB in a season since Ryan Braun back in 2012. In the bottom of the ninth, Christian hit a walk-off double to left field, earning Milwaukee’s seventh straight victory.
Walk-offs are always fun. Walk-offs to beat the Cubs are even more fun.
7. The Time He Hit 3 Home Runs in One Game
In a game against the St. Louis Cardinals early in the 2019 season, you could probably say Yelich was on fire for this game. Leading the Brew Crew to a 10-7 win over the Cards, he set a career high with seven RBI’s and the first ever three home-run game for Yelich as well.
The last time a three home-run game performed by a Brewer was in 2017 when Jesus Aguilar crushed three against the Yankees. The fireworks were popping off repeatedly on that night.
There were doubts by many heading into the 2019 season that Yelich could continue the kind of power surge he had in the second half of 2018. This game helped put those doubts to rest.
6. Those Times He Hit Grand Slams
Have to put these both into one slot on the countdown because they’re equally amazing. Yelich has hit two career grand slams, both happening wearing a Brewers uniform.
The first occurred on September 2nd, 2018 against the Washington Nationals where he crushed a grand slam in the 5th inning, bringing the Crew to a 9-4 lead. His second one happened in July of ’19 against the Atlanta Braves, and they ended up crushing them 13-1.
5. The Time He Hit It Into the Allegheny River
It’s not everyday you get to say that Christian Yelich’s “home run derby practice round” broke your boat’s window. Before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Christian decided to hit the ball out of PNC Field, where it landed in a boat parked in the Allegheny River near right field. Legendary, one could say.
https://twitter.com/ChristianYelich/status/1147241995942993923
It’s such a shame that Yelich had to miss the 2019 Home Run Derby due to a back injury, because this would’ve been pretty epic to watch on national TV.
4. The Time He Did the ESPN Body Issue
Everyone, everywhere were drooling over the pictures Yelich did with ESPN for their annual body shoot. He was the second Brewer to do it, Prince Fielder being the first, although Fielder wasn’t on the Brewers when he did the shoot.
But, people definitely had their opinions on the body issue. Christian said that he had no problem doing it, and that it was a new experience for him. Definitely didn’t mind those pictures, if I do say so myself.
3. The Time He Told Roxane to Relax
With Yelich doing the Body Issue, soon came the critics and one in particular was not a fan of Yelich posing in the nude. A lady by the name of Roxane decided that Yelich’s pictures were ‘distasteful’ and that he should be ‘thinking of the kids that look up to him’…His response?
“Relax Roxane”.
Those two words took social media by storm, making Roxane a meme and the laughing stock of the baseball world. To make things funny, Christian even changed his walk up music for a day to Roxanne by the Police, definitely showed his trolly side.
He switched it back to his original walk up song afterwards, but it would’ve been fun if he kept it for a little while afterwards.
2. The Time He Hit For The Cycle Twice in a Season
Christian Yelich became the first player in MLB history to hit for the cycle twice in just one season against the same team. His first was August 30 against the Cincinnati Reds, when he went 6-for-6 at the plate and would do it again less than three weeks later.
He’s the fifth major league player to hit for the cycle several times in a season. Thankfully, Yelich was able to capture the memory when a young Brewers fan by the name of Michael got it all on video in exchange for a signed bat from Yelich.
1. That Time He Went Back-To-Back in Several Awards
Christian Yelich is an athlete who has performed many firsts and has broken records to be one of the best in MLB history. In 2018, he was honored with the NL MVP award, along with his first batting title and the Hank Aaron Award. Not only that, but he earned his second silver slugger with the successful 2018 season.
You thought he was done? No way, he was coming into 2019 hotter than ever. Even though his season was cut a month short and would miss the remaining 18 games the Brewers would go on to play, Yelich did end up going back-to-back in the NL batting title, with a batting average of .329, he received another Silver Slugger, and even won the Hank Aaron Award for the second year in a row. Unfortunately, he did fall short to Cody Bellinger for the NL MVP title for this season. But, Milwaukee fans know who the true MVP is.
So, happy birthday Christian Yelich! 28 years old and still showing everyone how baseball’s supposed to be played. The 2020 season is fast approaching and Brewers fans and baseball fans alike cannot wait to see Yelich back on the plate and in the field, crushing more records and maybe breaking some of his own.