Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich is proving he is still a very relevant Major League Baseball player.

The left-handed hitting Yelich, 31, is having an outstanding season.

Yelich is on track to be seriously considered as the National League Comeback Player of The Year.

Of course, Yelich will have stiff competition for the prestigious MLB award. For example, Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger has revised his career with a huge comeback season.

Both Yelich and Bellinger play in the highly competitive National League Central Division.

Both Yelich and Bellinger will be key components of their respective teams as the pennant race heats up down the stretch.

Brewers fans are well aware that Yelich was drafted in the first round of the 2010 MLB draft by the Florida Marlins.

Yelich was the No. 23 player taken in the draft.

Selected out of Westlake High School in Westlake Village, California, Yelich was given a signing bonus of $1.7 million by the Marlins. MLB valued his draft position at $1.26 million, giving Yelich an above slot signing bonus.

On January 25, 2018, the Marlins traded Yelich to the Milwaukee Brewers in a surprising deal that sent four prospect players to Miami. They included outfielders Lewis Brinson, and Monte Harrison, infielder Isan Diaz, and pitcher Jordan Yamamoto.

Brinson is now playing in Japan. Harrison is back in the Brewers organization, and is playing at Triple-A Nashville. Diaz was in the Tigers organization, but was waived August 7. Yamamoto is not in affiliated baseball.

While the players sent to Miami for Yelich have seen their careers sputter, Yelich has revived a career that has seen him deal with severe injuries and inconsistency at the plate.

Yelich began his baseball life with the Brewers with an All Star season in 2018. Strong, healthy, and agile, Yelich soared to a stat line of .326/.402/.598/.1.000 with 36 homers and 110 RBIs in 651 plate appearances. He also smoked 34 doubles, seven triples, and stole 22 bases in 26 attempts.

Brewers fans were ecstatic with their new star outfielder.

Yelich had another All Star season in 2019. He hit .329 with 44 homers, 97 RBIs, and 100 runs scored in 580 plate appearances. Yelich also had 29 doubles, three triples, and stoled 30 bases in 33 attempts.

But a problem began to creep in. The dreaded injury bug began to bite Christian Yelich. Badly.

Here is a list of injuries that cost Yelich productivity and time away from the game in his major league career

2018- right oblique strain

2019- serious back spasms on four separate occasions, and serious knee injury

2021- serious back spasms and related issues on two separate occasions, and COVID.

2022- serious back spasms and related issues, and neck related issues

2023- serious back spasms and related issues

His injuries took a major toll on Yelich’s productivity.

In 2019, Yelich played 130 games. He was an All Star, but his back had begun to bark.

In 2021, Yelich played only 117 games. He hit .248 in 475 plate appearances.

In 2022, Yelich improved, but still didn’t find his swing and game mechanics that saw him soar to All Star status in his early years with the Brewers.

Fans were vocal in their displeasure with Yelich’s lack of productivity.

Much of the fan reaction can be traced to the fact Yelich signed a massive, 9-year, $215 million contract that extends from 2020-2028. Yelich’s contract has an annual average value of $23,888,869. A mutual Yelich/Brewers option for 2029 exists at a value of $20 million, which would give Yelich a $6 million pay cut if he and the Brewers accept that option.

Yelich is in the midst of a wonderful season.

At the start of play August 17, in 512 plate appearances, Yelich is hitting .287/.373/.458/.831 with 16 homers, 66 RBIs, 83 runs scored, 27 doubles, a triple, and 25 stolen bases in 27 attempts,

Now healthy, revised mechanics have been at the center of Yelich’s comeback season. He replaced a leg kick with a toe tap. It altered his timing. It changed his hitting trigger. He is driving through the ball-with impact. And it revived his career.

Hitting in the leadoff spot for manager Craig Counsell, Yelich has been an outstanding table setter for this most commonly used Brewers lineup:

Christian Yelich-LF

William Contreras-C

Carlos Santana-1B

Sal Frelick-CF

Willie Adames-SS

Mark Canha-DH

Andruw Monasterio-3B

Brice Turang-2B

Tyrone Taylor-RF

Based upon the opposing starting pitcher, Counsell also uses bench and utility players that include:

Victor Caratini-C

Brian Anderson-INF/OF

Abraham Toro-INF

Joey Wiemer-OF

The Brewers will head down the stretch with a very slim 2.5 game lead in the National League Central.

The Brewers are facing the challenges of highly motivated Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds teams.

The Brewers will face The Cubs six times before the season ends. They have three games at Wrigley in Chicago August 28, 29 and 30. They play the Cubs at home to end the season September 29, 30 and October 1.

The Brewers do not face the Reds again this season.

The additional offense provided by adding Carlos Santana and Mark Canha via trades have lengthened the lineup.

For this scout, the presence of Christian Yelich at the top of the team’s lineup can make all the difference in the tight pennant race.

Yelich can get on base and set the table for the guys behind him. Yelich can provide the needed veteran spark that sets a winning tone.

Based upon his season so far, Christian Yelich should receive serious consideration as the National League Comeback Player of the Year.