Why Brewers fans should be excited about Christian Yelich's swing change

Eight years ago, Christian Yelich won the 2018 NL MVP award during his first season with the Milwaukee Brewers, leading the team to within one game of a World Series appearance. He followed up his MVP and batting title campaign, during which he hit 36 home runs, drove in 110 runs, stole 22 bases, and posted a 1.000 OPS, with an even more impressive season in 2019. That year, he blasted 44 home runs, recorded 97 RBI, stole 30 bases, and finished with a 1.100 OPS while again winning the batting title. He ultimately finished second in MVP voting, largely due to a fractured patella prematurely ending his season.

Unfortunately, Yelich lost his way at the plate from 2020–2022, slashing just .243/.358/.388 during that stretch. During those difficult seasons, his timing was off and his confidence appeared low. As a result, not only did his power disappear, but he was also producing more weak ground-ball contact than ever before.

In July of 2022, he knew something needed to change, so he began experimenting with a toe tap at the plate instead of his leg kick and was moved to the leadoff spot in the batting order. By the start of the 2023 season, the toe tap had essentially become permanent, giving him a move that was more consistently repeatable, which helped him stay on time and in rhythm.

The results with the toe tap were encouraging, as he began hitting the ball much better. In 2024, he was on pace to potentially enter the conversation for 30 home runs and 100 RBI, but a lingering back issue became too troublesome and he ultimately opted for surgery. In his first season back, last year, he picked up right where he left off, hitting 29 home runs and driving in 103 runs during one of his best seasons as a professional.

Looking ahead to 2026, Yelich reportedly has his sights set on going back to a leg kick, an approach that has a much higher ceiling than the toe tap.

Why Milwaukee Brewers fans should be excited about Christian Yelich toying with a leg kick in Spring Training

Despite posting solid numbers in 2025, Yelich stumbled out of the gate. On May 4, he was sitting with just a .207/.312/.355 slash line. In an attempt to regain his timing, he briefly went back to using a leg kick, a move driven more by desperation to get back on track and spark something at the plate.

After making the switch, he belted a season-high seven home runs in a single month, though his batting average still wasn’t particularly high. By June, however, he was firing on all cylinders, catching fire with a .333 batting average for the month. At that point, he appeared to have rediscovered what he needed at the plate and returned to his more reliable toe-tap approach.

For Brewers fans, it should be exciting that Yelich has been practicing his leg kick again during Spring Training this year, but this time under much different circumstances. Unlike last season, when the adjustment came out of a search for answers, he’s experimenting with it now while gearing up for the season, and already has a home run.

The leg kick has historically coincided with some of his most explosive offensive stretches, so if he’s comfortable enough to start the year using it, or at least mix it in, it could give him a chance to unlock the kind of impact production that once made him one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball.