Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers was removed from Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies after sustaining a right hand contusion from a pitch in the first inning. The Brewers’ designated hitter initially remained in the game to run, but was substituted by Eric Haase when his turn at bat returned in the third inning.

Yelich’s Recent Performance Before Injury

Before the injury, Yelich had been performing exceptionally well over the last eight games, achieving a .472 batting average with 17 hits in 36 at-bats. During this hot streak, the 33-year-old outfielder hit five home runs, scored 10 runs, drove in 13 RBIs, and recorded two steals. This surge included a walk-off grand slam on May 27 against the Boston Red Sox, which improved his season slash line from .184/.276/.324 to .233/.314/.423.

Yelich Joins Elite Group of Power-Speed Players

Yelich’s 12 home runs and 10 stolen bases place him among an exclusive group of 11 major league players with double-digit totals in both categories this season. This group includes notable players such as Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Corbin Carroll of Arizona, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker of the Chicago Cubs, Oneil Cruz of Pittsburgh, Elly De La Cruz of Cincinnati, Jose Ramirez of Cleveland, Fernando Tatis Jr. of San Diego, Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets, and Wyatt Langford of Texas.

Implications and Next Steps for Yelich

The Brewers announced the hand contusion sustained by Yelich during the game but have not yet provided details regarding a possible placement on the 10-day injured list. The club’s decision will likely depend on further evaluation of the injury’s severity, which could impact their lineup and Yelich’s significant contribution to the team’s offense moving forward.