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Christian Yelich will be a Brewer through 2028: 'I am excited to be staying in Milwaukee'

Published  March 6, 2020 11:52am CST
Milwaukee Brewers
FOX 6 Now Milwaukee



MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers have signed outfielder Christian Yelich to a nine-year contract through the 2028 season with a mutual option for 2029. Yelich had previously been signed through the 2021 season with a club option for 2022.



Yelich, 28, is a career .301/.383/.492 hitter with 139 HR, 500 RBI and 124 stolen bases in 920 games with Miami (2013-17) and Milwaukee (2018-19). As a Brewer, he is a career .327/.415/.631 hitter with 80 HR, 207 RBI and 52 stolen bases in 277 games, leading the team to the postseason in both years with the organization.





Christian Yelich signs massive contract extension with Milwaukee Brewers



Over the past two seasons, the two-time All-Star leads the Major Leagues in batting average (.327) and ranks among the top five in the majors in on-base percentage (2nd, .415), slugging percentage (2nd, .631), OPS (2nd, 1.046), home runs (3rd, 80), total bases (3rd, 671), WAR (4th, 15.4 - per FanGraphs) and runs (5th, 218).

Yelich was voted 2018 National League MVP in his first season with the team after batting .326/.402/.598 with 36 HR, 110 RBI and 22 stolen bases in 147 games. He finished second to the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger in 2019 National League MVP voting after batting .329/.429/.671 with 44 HR, 97 RBI and 30 stolen bases in 130 games. His 2019 season ended on Sept. 10 at Miami after suffering a fractured right knee cap.



Christian Yelich signs massive contract extension with Milwaukee Brewers



Yelich became the first batting champion in franchise history, leading the National League in batting average in both 2018 (.326) and 2019 (.329). His other career accolades include 2019 All-MLB First Team honors, three Silver Slugger Awards (2016, 2018-19), two Hank Aaron Awards (2018-19) and a Gold Glove Award (2014 in left field).

Yelich was acquired from Miami on Jan. 25, 2018 in exchange for outfielders Lewis Brinson and Monte Harrison, infielder Isan Diaz and right-handed pitcher Jordan Yamamoto. He was selected by Miami in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.