Should Christian Yelich Become A Full-Time Designated Hitter In 2025?

In 2024, the following players (and the number of games played) appeared at the designated hitter position in ten games or more for Milwaukee:

• Gary Sanchez - 47
• Rhys Hoskins - 37
• William Contreras - 35
• Christian Yelich - 26
• Jake Bauers  - 17
• Tyler Black - 10

The team took a mix-and-match approach, but the result was getting Sanchez and Bauers in for more than 600 plate appearances. This was planned for Sanchez as the club liked his power. As for Bauers, the team felt his left-handed bat would help out by giving Hoskins, who had missed all of 2023 with an injury, an occasional rest. 

But the Bauers/Sanchez tandem was underwhelming. While they did his 23 home runs, they combined for a .208 batting average, with Bauers hitting below the Mendoza line. 

And while the tandem didn’t exactly light the world on fire, the setup did allow the club to give position players, such as Contreras, a rest from the field. Or if a player was nursing an injury, as Yelich was at times. This approach provides flexibility up and down the roster. 

The problem facing the Crew is that Christian Yelich turns 33 this December. He is tied to the franchise for at least four more years and more than $100 million. It’s a considerable investment. While Yelich still runs well, he is a below-average fielder - and let’s be honest - that part of his game will only get worse as he ages. Even more important is his injury history.

Yelich had back surgery in August and has a history of back issues. The team must be concerned about his health and availability going forward. He may no longer be a batting champion and mash 40+ home runs, but over 130-140 games, if he can hit .300 and add 20 home runs, he’s incredibly valuable to a club that lacks elite, well-rounded hitters. 

The upside to making Yelich a full-time DH is that it gives him a better chance to make it through the entire season in top shape. It also allows the team to have an elite defensive outfield of Chourio, Mitchell, Frelick, and Perkins. Most of all, it puts the DH slot into the hands of Yelich, as opposed to players such as Sanchez and Bauers, who struggle to keep their batting averages over .200.

The downside is that it limits how often players such as Contreras can get a day ‘off’ from the field. No position is more grueling than catcher. And it forces Rhys Hoskins (who I believe will opt-in for the 2025 season) into full-time duty at first base. This is not a terrible situation, but it is not good, as Hoskins had a -3 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) and -4 OAA (Outs Above Average) in 777.1 innings at first base in 2024.

If the club looked to go down this route, this is how it could potentially be managed:

• Yelich plays 130-140 games at DH. Perhaps he gets a few games in the field, but it should be limited
• Contreras plays 20-30 games at DH. Over the last two years, he has been the DH for 33 and 35 games, respectively
• Eric Haase (or whoever the club uses as a backup catcher) starts 30-40 games behind the dish
• Hoskins plays 140 games at first base

The club could consider getting Tyler Black (or someone like him) to operate as a super-sub, getting in time at first base, left field, and third base.

In the end, the main goal is replacing Sanchez and Bauers's 20 home runs and .208 batting average with Yelich's 20 home runs and .300 average. There are other upsides and downsides, but this is the big takeaway. 

To maintain the flexibility they enjoyed this year, the team may elect to keep sending Yelich out to the field. Maybe even making him more of a left fielder/designated hitter. But every time he goes out into the field, he adds a little more risk to his overall health.

To have Christian Yelich full-time in 2025 would be a boon for the Brewers, who will need to find some extra offense when Willy Adames departs in the off-season. And so, the club should consider shifting Yelich to a full-time designated hitter for 2025.