MILWAUKEE — Sooner or later, the Milwaukee Brewers knew that Christian Yelich would need to undergo surgery. All to deal with the All-Star outfielder’s back problems.
Brewers’ GM Looks Ahead After Yelich’s Season Ends With Surgery
No matter what Yelich and the medical staff did to avoid it, the decision came sooner than later.
Yelich underwent surgery Friday to correct the issues that have plagued him on and off for the last few years, and three weeks ago, landed him on the IL for a second time this season.
“I’ve watched him work hard on what he’s been doing in the weight room, doing everything to come back but unfortunately it just wasn’t working for him,” general manager Matt Arnold said Friday as the Brewers prepared to open a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians at American Family Field.
Arnold, Yelich, and manager Pat Murphy had met earlier in the week to discuss the situation. It was an “emotional” discussion, Arnold said. Ultimately, it came down to a few simple facts. First, for all the work Yelich had been putting in, the results just weren’t there. Second, as tough as it would be to lose Yelich for the stretch run, having him at full strength and ready for next season — and beyond — was more important than trying to come back and risk further damage.
So, with that, the decision was made.
“We know that this is something that is going to be that is going to be a positive for us in the future,” Arnold said. “We all know that it’s going to be a challenge for this team, but we’ve overcome a lot this year. We’re going to have to deal with more adversity and we’re ok with that. But again, on the bright side, we’ll hopefully get a really happy and healthy and pain-free Christian Yelich in the future.”
Brewers Handling Adversity All Year
Adversity has been the name of the game for the Brewers this season. Milwaukee has been ravaged by injuries going back to Spring Training. All-Star closer Devin Williams was lost to back surgery. Then, former first-round pick Garrett Mitchell suffered a broken finger.
Already without Brandon Woodruff, who underwent shoulder surgery last fall that will keep him sidelined until 2025. In addition to trading Corbin Burnes, the Brewers’ rotation took further hits when Wade Miley and Robert Gasser had to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery. DL Hall, one of the players acquired for Burnes, missed several months with a knee injury.
Add in Yelich’s month-long IL stint earlier this season and injuries to Rhys Hoskins, Gary Sánchez, Blake Perkins, and multiple relievers; the Brewers have been hit by the injury bug harder than just about any team in MLB this season.
Still, somehow, Milwaukee went into its weekend showdown against Cleveland with the largest cushion of any of the six division leaders, nine games up on the rest of the NL Central. The Brewers have done it with an unheralded group of young, talented — albeit unproven — players. Murphy expects that group to handle this latest challenge the same way it has all the ones before it.
“This is all a big ask,” Murphy said of the job ahead. “From day 1, it’s been a big ask. This is just the cards we’ve been dealt since we started. This has been a big ask for these guys all year. Everything’s a big ask. I don’t mind a big ask because you never know what you’re capable of.”
Yelich Still Will Be With The Team
The bright side, Murphy said, is that even though Yelich won’t be on the field the rest of the way, he’ll remain with the team as much as possible during his recovery. The veteran has been a model of leadership — a “pillar,” to use Murphy’s term. He’s helped his young teammates adjust to the rigors and pressures of playing in the big leagues.
“He’s connected with so many players in there because they respect his work and the way he goes about his business,” Murphy said. “He doesn’t force anything. It’s very authentic. He carries on what he believes. He has a real interest in young players. He has a real interest in playing the game the right way. You watch him and if you emulated him, you’d be a really good act.”
Main Photo Credits: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
