Christian Yelich to Miss Rest of Season With Fractured Kneecap
By Mark Powell
The Brewers Wild Card chances just took a major hit, and now the NL MVP race is likely over as well.
2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich has kept up a torrid pace in 2019, with 44 home runs on the season and attempting to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a second consecutive postseason appearance. On Tuesday night, that attempt took a major hit, with Yelich taking a foul ball to the kneecap. The Brewers announced after their contest in Miami that Yelich had fractured his kneecap, and will miss the rest of the season.
Christian Yelich left tonight’s game with a fractured right knee cap. He will miss the remainder of the season.
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 11, 2019
The Brewers' postseason chances were still very much alive entering the day, as they're 1.5 games back of the second NL Wild Card spot, with the division rival Cubs directly ahead of them in the standings. Yet, without Yelich, it's hard to see them making up the necessary games to sneak into the Wild Card game, albeit not impossible.
Reigning MVP Christian Yelich has suffered fractured kneecap after fouling a ball off his right knee in the first inning, David Stearns announced. It’s season ending and he’ll travel back to Milwaukee tomorrow for further evaluation.
— Sophia Minnaert (@SophiaMinnaert) September 11, 2019
Yelich's battle with Cody Bellinger for the NL MVP award was set to be one of the major storylines down the stretch. Yeli's statline has been downright outrageous this season, with a slash line of .329/.429/.671, 44 home runs, 30 stolen bases and 7.7 fWAR/7.1 rWAR in 580 plate appearances.
For now, we'll wait for further word from the Brewers as to Yelich's injury timetable, and wish him the best in his recovery.