Christian Yelich’s MVP candidate season may just be ruined after missing the last weeks of the regular season.

For many passionate viewers of baseball, watching Christian Yelich drop in severe pain, suffering on the red dirt of the field will forever stay in their minds. 

The red hot Milwaukee Brewers lost former MVP Christian Yelich due to a fractured kneecap, at the most crucial point in the MLB season. Not only did this hurt the Brewers in their chances of making the playoffs, but this could easily affect his chances on being named the National League MVP for the second year in a row.

While the Brewers were trying to maintain their position in the wild card race, they had to find a way to do it without Yelich, as his injury will keep him out until at least next season. Following their next game days after Yelich’s incident, General Manager David Stears said, “We don’t have a definitive time frame other than we know he will be out the remainder of the season right now.” 

After the game, Yelich, who avoided all media, was set to travel to Milwaukee for tests. At this point there are no sources leaking results on the tests other than there will be no surgery needed. The medical staff has informed the Brewers organization that he will be expected to rejoin the ball club for spring training. 

Yelich signed his first long-term contract four years ago—a seven-year, 49.57 million dollar extension with the Miami Marlins in March 2015.

Yelich’s was traded away from the Marlins after a disastrous 2017 season. After the Marlins finished with 53 wins and 100 losses—the worst record in the entire league, new Marlins owner Derek Jeter didn’t hesitate to start making moves, trading away several champions and all-stars including Christian Yelich. The Brewers received Yelich in exchange for four minor-league prospects: Lewis brinson, Isan Diaz, Monte Harrison and No.13 overall prospect in the Majors, Jordan Yamamoto. 

In 2018 he was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player after putting up some stunning numbers. In a whopping 574 at bats, he hit for an average of .326 with 36 home runs and 110 runs batted in. 

One of the big questions for this year’s MVP award is whether Yelich’s numbers be good enough even though he missed the last two weeks of the regular season. In just 489 at bats he hit for an average of .329 with 44 home runs and 97 runs batted in. Although his numbers are just as good this year if not better than last year, he may or may not be able to clinche his second MVP title. Another top contender is Cody Bellinger, who in 551 at bats (62 more than Yelich) is hitting for an average of .301 with 46 home runs and 118 runs batted in. 

Now that the 2019 season is at an end and all stats are provided, it all depending on who rounds up the most votes for MVP. Will Yelich’s injury affect his odds at back to back MVP awards?  Although he missed out on a full two weeks of games he still put up very impressive numbers, in fact they were extremely close to the ones from last year’s season. He is a fan favourite, and that counts for something, too. 

Yelich may be down, but he’s not out yet.

(Image Credit: Flickr/ Ian D’Andrea)