The Brewers' star outfielder is opting for surgery and leaving his team in first place in the National League Central.
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee BrewersThe leaders of the National League Central division should continue their fight to reach the playoffs without Christian Yelich.
Yelich will undergo surgery again on Friday, ending the National League MVP's resurgent 2018 season.
He has not played since being ejected from a July 23 game at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Yelich has been dealing with back issues for the past few years, and it landed him on the disabled list twice this season.
Yelich, 32, said in a video posted on social media Thursday that surgery was “the best option we really have left.”
“It's gotten to the point where it can't get better,” Yelich said. “I've tried everything I can, I'm out of options, it's time to make a decision.”
The Brewers announced that Dr. Brandon Rebols will perform the surgery in Milwaukee.
“There's no other way than it's terrible,” Yelich said. “It's scary. But it's part of the game. These things happen. You get hurt, you get better and you play again. Try to be as positive about it as possible.”
Yelich had his best season since his first two years in Milwaukee when he won the 2018 National League MVP and finished second in the 2019 MVP voting. Steals 73 games despite dealing with back issues.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy praised Yelich all season for the leadership he provided to a young team that endured numerous injuries to stay in the NL Central since late April.
As the Brewers seek their first World Series title in franchise history, Yelich won't be able to lead their lineup.
Although the Brewers are making their sixth postseason appearance in the past seven years, they haven't won a playoff series since 2018 and won their only World Series in 1982. The Brewers have the largest lead of any team in the major leagues. , nine games over Cincinnati and St. Louis in the Central Division.
“It's a great group of guys,” Yelich said. “They're playing really well. I'm excited to watch them and see what they're going to do. Hopefully they can win the division and make the playoffs. And then once you get into the postseason, you know who knows what will happen, and I'm sure they'll do it.
