Milwaukee Brewers All-Star outfielder Christian Yelich is facing the possibility of season-ending back surgery after being placed on the 10-day injured list with lower back inflammation.
The Milwaukee Brewers' hopes of contending for the NL Central title have suffered a major blow with the news that All-Star outfielder Christian Yelich has been placed on the 10-day injured list with lower back inflammation. The injury has raised concerns that Yelich may require season-ending back surgery.
Yelich, 32, is scheduled to undergo an examination on Thursday that will determine if surgery is necessary. The Brewers made the announcement on Wednesday, one day after removing Yelich from a game against the Chicago Cubs due to back tightness.
Yelich's injury is a significant setback for the Brewers, who are currently leading the NL Central. Yelich has been a key contributor to the Brewers' success this season, leading the NL in batting average (.315) and on-base percentage (.406). He also has 11 homers, 42 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases in 73 games.
However, Yelich has struggled since the All-Star break, going 0 for 9 in his first three games back. He was 0 for 1 with two walks in Tuesday's 1-0 victory over the Cubs before being removed in the eighth inning.
Yelich's injury is a major concern for the Brewers, who are already without another key player, catcher Omar Narvaez. Narvaez has been on the injured list since July 11 with a quadriceps strain.
The Brewers have recalled catcher Gary Sánchez from the injured list to replace Yelich on the roster. Sánchez has been out for the past month with a calf strain.
The loss of Yelich is a significant blow to the Brewers' offense, which has been one of the best in the NL this season. Yelich is a five-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner. He finished second in the NL MVP voting in 2018 and 2019.
The Brewers are hopeful that Yelich will be able to return to the lineup this season, but they are also prepared for the possibility that he could miss the rest of the year. The team has a 54-42 record and leads the NL Central by 2.5 games over the St. Louis Cardinals.
If Yelich does undergo season-ending surgery, it would be a major setback for both the Brewers and the player himself. Yelich is one of the most talented players in the game and is a key part of the Brewers' hopes of winning their first World Series title since 1982.
