Christian Yelich delivered arguably his best performance of the season, all while honoring the late announcer Bob Uecker.
In a thrilling comeback against the Reds on Friday, the Brewers secured a 10-8 win. Yelich, 33, had an impressive day at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two home runs, two doubles, and a total of five RBIs. He used a custom bat designed for MLB Player Weekend that paid tribute to Uecker.
This special bat was light blue and featured a picture of Uecker along with two of his well-known catchphrases, including “Juuuuust a little outside” etched on the barrel.
Yelich expressed how significant this game was for him, stating that he felt Uecker’s presence during the Brewers’ recent streak of success. “Of course,” he remarked, adding, “That goes for everyone around here.”
Entering this game, Yelich had already tallied 23 home runs and 81 RBIs over 113 games this season, with a batting line of .266/.344/.456.
Though Yelich had created the bat before last season’s Player Weekend, he was unable to use it due to back surgery he underwent in August.
Uecker passed away in January at the age of 90, and during his time with Milwaukee, he and Yelich developed a close bond.
After the game, Yelich reflected on the loss of Uecker, saying, “Obviously I miss him.” He previously shared his admiration for Uecker’s authenticity, emphasizing, “I think his biggest gift was that he was genuine.”
As of now, the Brewers sport a record of 77-44, standing atop the NL Central with a nine-game lead.
