Christian Yelich Needs the Milwaukee Brewers Fan Base Now More Than Ever

[Jake McKibbin]

Image courtesy of IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

There has been an increasing subcurrent of unease around Christian Yelich in July. He's struggled since the start of June, slashing .220/.317/.340, and has struggled to replicate the impact he had last year. Matt Trueblood wrote a fantastic piece earlier in the year dissecting Yelich's swing path, specifically his struggles with the down-and-in breaking ball, which is worth a read if you haven't seen it already. The lack of production is tough to see for the franchise cornerstone, who's dealt with a lot since signing his seven-year extension with the Brewers in terms of injury, form, and expectation.

Christian Yelich isn't playing with confidence right now. The swing looks hesitant, the timing is inconsistent, and frustration has started to spill over from the stands. But if the Brewers want to get the best version of their veteran DH, support—not criticism-is probably the better answer. He talked about this exact thing in an interview with the Midwest Legends podcast:

Going through a confidence crisis is nothing a veteran hitter hasn't faced before. Yelich dealt with a lot of the same struggles in trying to live up to his MVP form from 2020-2023, before finally finding some semblance of his old self in 2024 and 2025. He'll never be that player again, as age and injury will limit his ability to do such destructive damage across the strike zone, but that doesn't mean Yelich can't go through bursts of power as we've seen across those other down seasons. 

Christian Yelich's swing is one of the oddest in baseball, with a lot of moving parts. It's a swing that puts a lot of torque through his lower back, from his hip coil, his load, getting his foot down, to releasing the barrel; Yelich has a lot of quirks within his swing that typically mean he'll be up and down in nature. That has been amplified this season as age and potentially back mobility have caught up to him. We have still seen signs earlier in the season, however, that, when on time, Yelich can be a difference maker.

In the Brewers' first series of the season against the White Sox, Yelich pinch hit down one run, two men on, two out in the bottom of the eighth inning. Then this happened - a majestic, 111.1 mph home run to right field. Exactly the type of home run that usually indicates Yelich is feeling on time.

He's also been absolutely fine as the strong side of a platoon this season. Yes, the swing and miss is a little higher than we're used to, but his swing decisions and exit velocities have been strong enough to justify DH-ing consistently at that position. His expected weighted on-base average is about league average, but it's startling to see the difference in contact quality between when Yelich faces left- or right-handed pitching (NB his OPS splits do not reflect the difference in at-bat quality, as you can see below. Don't @ me on this.)

Confidence plays a big role in baseball. We've seen that with Joey Ortiz. I have a feeling we're about to see it with Jackson Chourio. You have no time to think as a hitter; it's incredibly reactionary in the box, so if you don't have the courage of your convictions, the whole process can look ugly in a hurry. Placing Yelich in situations where he can succeed more consistently is a good place to start. With confidence will come lower body tension, better timing, and perhaps (as we saw with Ortiz) better bat speed.

I'd also point out that, against right-handers, his expected weighted on-base average on contact has ticked up month by month, and was .447 in July per Savant. He's taking these fastballs to opposite field, which limits some of his damage with the lower exit velocities we're seeing this season, but it is rising despite July being his roughest month of the year.

The point of this article is to show that Christian Yelich is not a washed-up baseball player. There are signs of the old star still in there, and he can still be a productive member of this team in a slightly more restricted role. With a bit of confidence, he's also the kind of bat who can really step up and carry this offense for a week.

Yelich was given some boo's from the crowd last night, and Murphy had this to say:

This is Milwaukee's man. He's going to figure out a way to be productive, as he's done every season of his career. A little fan support can go a long way towards that (if in doubt, see Trea Turner and the Phillies fanbase in 2024). These guys care about Milwaukee. They care about the Brewers. Yelich took a discounted deal to stay here in 2019, and the fan base pressure will be adding to that tension, not helping remove it.

He's earned that support. Few players have carried this franchise the way Yelich has, and while he may never again be an MVP, he can still be an important part of a winning Brewers team. If confidence is part of what's holding him back, the crowd has a chance to help instead of hinder.

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[Brian]

If Yelich is going through a confidence crisis he just needs to hang out with El Kracken, Gary Sanchez more because he is always cool and just plays baseball with no worries no matter what screw ups he may do. 

[Trax]

The key word in Murph's Yeli speech is "was".

 

This is a game of high stakes and it is all about what you can do for me NOW.

 

Yeli should get a little rest and extra time working in the cage with the instructors.  He should be strictly platooned with match ups and moved to 7 or 8 in the lineup.  I had recommended 5 or 6 earlier but that was out of loyalty.  7 or 8 and platooned until he has earned better.

We have Lockridge and Frelick returning soon, once they knock some rust off they need to be made us of.  The focus must be to play the best players we have at the very best spots in the lineup for the TEAM.

It is all about winning and earning your place, loyalty is important but takes a 2nd row seat.

[ChapelHeel66]

I agree that a “washed up” label is harsh, but I disagree that this is a post-All Star break problem.  

His underlying metrics were bad even when his numbers looked reasonable (while still being below his norm).  He was running a massive BABIP the first couple of months, while getting only average results. The swing metrics have been consistently awful all year.  His early “okay” results were destined to regress without some changes.  That has not happened.  

And this is while opposing pitchers still have not adjusted to the fact he hasn’t been able to handle breaking pitches for two seasons (they are actually throwing him fewer breakers).

My take is different than lack of confidence driving his poor results.  I think his poor underlying hitting metrics are driving the bad results, which are producing the lack of confidence. For lack of confidence to be the driver, we would have to assume he lacked confidence from the start of the season,, Maybe that’s the case, but I don’t remember hearing anything like that during spring training.

Put another way, his lack of confidence is actually justified, because he has not been able to solve the underlying problems.  That would hurt anyone’s confidence.

I’m sure there is some natural decline in his skills, but aging doesn’t usually look like a cliff, so I think he still has something to contribute.  However, I am not convinced it will happen this year, which is why I was disappointed we did not get a bat at the deadline  (not instead of May…in addition to him).  

He’s currently a poor hitter with no position…basically a replacement level player.  If he has not substantially improved the underlying issues by the call-ups, then I hope we give Fischer a chance at his spot.  

This is analysis, not criticism.  I want Yelich to perform well, and he has a place on the team regardless.  But to achieve our goals, he may need to be in the back seat.

[Rick Daltons Flamethrower]

I think you can be a great fan by cheering for Yelli  but also by hoping for his benching for a while so he can clear his head and spirit. Both are ok and part of fandom. 

[Brian]

1 hour ago, Trax said:

The focus must be to play the best players we have at the very best spots in the lineup for the TEAM.

It is all about winning and earning your place, loyalty is important but takes a 2nd row seat.

Agree 100% especially nearing the playoffs in 8 weeks.  

[Profbratsch]

It has been painful to watch his approach at the plate, particularly with off-speed pitches-but do not give up hope. When you least expect it:

https://pinkmonkey.com/dl/library1/book1305.pdf

And yes, I know the time span in the poem is twenty years years between the ignominious strikeout and his redemption, and I know this is fiction-but the message comes through loud and clear. Casey was worse than an asterisk but, in the end, figured it out.

CY will do the same...

[biedergb]

Yeli is being outperformed by our two 21 year old rookies, nd almost by David Hamilton.  If not for Ortiz I think Yeli would be the biggest drain in the line up.  
‘however his 2018-2019 basically helped cement this team where they are now. Not sure the organization finds its traction and becomes what they are now without him carrying them those 2 year.