Christian Yelich's path to a second-straight All-Star game just got much more difficult

Back in 2018 and 2019, Christian Yelich looked like the type of player who would make the All-Star game (ASG) in every season for the rest of his career, simply due to his track record alone. You know, the type of player who fans of other National League teams vote for anyways because they want their squad to beat the American League, while watching the best players from their league take the field — not just those who are off to a hot start in the given season. However, a broken kneecap, a balky back, and middling production dropped Yelich's name out of the ASG conversations for several years.

Last season, just as Milwaukee Brewers fans were ready to abandon hope that they would see their former MVP in the ASG ever again, Yelich put together his best first half in five years, not only earning his way into the 2024 ASG, but doing so as the National League's starting right fielder.

Several weeks ago, no one was mentioning Yelich's name in ASG conversations for this season. His batting average was below .200, his strikeout rate was elevated, and with several other strong performances from NL designated hitters, it was looking like Yelich's return to the ASG was going to be a steep uphill battle. Then, all he did was put together one of the best weeks of his career, winning the NL Player of the Week for the first time since 2019, and reigniting the fanbases' confidence in their franchise cornerstone. However, just as Yelich was starting to heat up and reinstall his name into ASG conversations, a major obstacle appeared in his path.

Rafael Devers immediately ranks second in All-Star voting among NL designated hitters, clouding Christian Yelich's path to a second straight ASG appearance

The first update of ASG voting was released on Monday, the morning after the Boston Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. Not a single Brewer appeared in the top-five (top-nine for outfielders) vote getters at any position, but perhaps the most disheartening development was the arrival of Rafael Devers as the second-highest vote getter among NL designated hitters, trailing only Shohei Ohtani.

While an ASG may have seemed like a reach for Yelich this season, as it was likely going to be too difficult to overcome his slow start to the season regardless of his play over the next month, it now feels insurmountable. Even if Yelich were to go on a tear over the next four and a half weeks, it seems impossible to pass the likes of Ohtani and Devers in the eyes of ASG voters.

Yelich's only path to the ASG might now be as the Brewers’ lone representative. In an ongoing controversial rule, MLB ensures that every team has at least one representative at the Midseason Classic, which some argue leads to less deserving players receiving All-Star recognition when others were more worthy. Working against Yelich's chances at a second-straight ASG is the impressive season that Brewers' ace Freddy Peralta is having. Assuming his production continues over the next month, Peralta is deserving of a spot in the ASG regardless of the roster stipulation that every team must have a representative.

However, what Brewers fans and Yelich himself care far more about is his ability to continue to play the impressive baseball that he has been over the last few weeks. ASG appearances are just one small side effect of playing good baseball, and one that players and fans care far less about than their team winning games.