Surviving Without Christian Yelich

When things were going well for the Milwaukee Brewers and Christian Yelich, they took a turn for the worse. The Brewers star outfielder was recently placed on the injured list due to another back issue. People are fearing that this could cost him the season. However, the season continues, and the Brewers still have a chance to win the division and go to the postseason. Milwaukee must figure out what’s next after potentially losing Christian Yelich long-term.

A Terrible Break For The Brewers And Christian Yelich

Before his back injury, Christian Yelich looked like he had returned to MVP form. The Brewers star was slashing .315/406/.504 with 11 homers, 42 RBI, and a .909 OPS. His .315 batting average was leading the National League. Yelich also made it to the all-star game this year for the first time since 2019. This was the third time in his career that he was selected to play in the mid-summer classic. However, Yelich’s back problems have cost the Brewers at the worst time. The former MVP is currently visiting a specialist, but has opted to try and rest and rehab rather then get surgery.

Garrett Mitchell Has Shown Promise But Is A Risky Play

The Brewers currently are trotting out 25-year-old former first-round pick Garrett Mitchell. While Mitchell has flashed promise at times, rolling with him moving forward comes with some risk. The former UCLA Bruin is arguably more injury-prone than Yelich. In parts of two seasons with Milwaukee, Mitchell has suffered two major injuries. He even began this season on the injured list with a broken hand and was just activated this month. Given his health history, moving forward with Mitchell playing every day is risky.

A Trade Could Make Sense

If the Brewers are uncomfortable with Mitchell, they can always explore the trade market. After all, the trade deadline is coming up soon and it wouldn’t hurt to add a left-handed outfielder to the list of needs. Acquiring a rental given the uncertainty surrounding Yelich and the health history of Garrett Mitchell makes sense. The Brewers have the prospect capital to acquire any outfielder they want. Some available outfielders that would make sense might be Brandon Lowe, LaMonte Wade Jr., and Michael Conforto. All three of them are left-handed and wouldn’t require the Brewers to give up a major prospect. At this point in the season, you can never have too much depth at any position.

There Are Ways To Mitigate Losing Christian Yelich

Losing someone like Christian Yelich is a tough blow for the Milwaukee Brewers. The longtime Brewer was having such a great season as well and it’s a shame he might not be able to finish it. While Yelich is irreplaceable, there are ways for the Brewers to mitigate this loss. Garrett Mitchell has flashed promise and there are plenty of outfielders available at the deadline that would fit Milwaukee’s needs.

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