The best player in the National League over the past two seasons has been Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich, who won the 2018 NL MVP and was second in the voting last year. Here are two props available to wager at Mybookie on Yelich’s 2020 MLB season – assuming there is one – and an overview.
Christian Yelich MLB Awards Odds & Analysis For 2020 Season
- Most home runs of any batter: Yelich is +1400
- NL MVP Award: Yelich is +700
Last year, Yelich might have repeated as NL MVP if not shut down after fracturing his right kneecap on Sept. 10 at the Marlins. It happened when he fouled a ball off that kneecap.
In 2019, Yelich led the majors in slugging and (.671) and OPS (1.100) and the National League in batting average (.329) and OBP (.429). He also ranked among the NL leaders in stolen bases (T3rd, 30), HR (4th, 44), total bases (T7th, 328) and extra-base hits (8th, 76).
Christian Yelich became the first player to win consecutive NL batting titles since the Rockies’ Larry Walker in 1998 (.363) and 1999 (.379). He is the only Brewer to win a batting title. Yelich became the 10th player (12 times) in Major League history to produce a 40 HR / 30 SB season.
He had an 18-game hitting streak from 6/1-6/21, batting .453 (34-for-75) with 8 HR and 17 RBI and also had a career-high 19-game hitting streak from 7/6-8/1, batting .359 (28-for-78) with 5 HR and 14 RBI. Yelich was named National League Player of the Week for 3/28-3/31 (4g, .500, 4hr, 8rbi) and 4/15-4/21 (7g, .417, 8hr, 16rbi) and Brewers Player of the Month for March/April (29g, .353, 14hr, 34rbi) and June (26g, .365, 8hr, 18rbi)
He tied franchise records for HR (3) and RBI (7) in a game on 4/15 vs. St. Louis and notched his 100th career stolen bases on 4/27 at the Mets and his 1,000th career hit on 6/30 vs. Pittsburgh (double off Steven Brault). Yelich also had 5 hits, including a pair of homers, on 8/17 at Washington (15-14 win in 14 innings). It was his fourth career game of at least 5 hits.
“Since I’ve been here and Yeli’s been here, I mean he’s been the best player I’ve ever seen,” All-Star reliever Josh Hader said. “The way he goes about his business, he does everything the right way and it’s just fun to be around him. For him to be here, lifelong Brewer, that’s exciting news.”
This offseason, Yelich agreed to a seven-year, $188.5 million extension with the Brewers. Yelich will keep the $12.5 million in 2020 and $14 million in 2020 from his old contract, while adding an additional seven years to take him through the 2028 campaign. The deal also includes a $20 million mutual option for the 2029 season with a $6.5 million buyout. All told, with the option picked up, the deal could total $228.5 million.
The extension will almost assuredly keep Yelich, 28, from ever reaching free agency in his career. In signing the deal, which averages just less than $24 million, it’s possible Yelich left some money on the table. Several other elite stars, including Bryce Harper, Mike Trout and Nolan Arenado, have signed for more annually.
“I made two decisions in my life that I felt were right at the time,” Yelich said at a news conference announcing the deal. “Chances are I’m probably never going to see free agency. That’s just how my career went.”
Christian Yelich isn’t 100 percent sold on MLB’s plan to play this season entirely in Arizona if possible.
“I saw that last night, I think late last night was the first time I’d actually heard of that plan,” he said. “I think a lot of guys have been talking about it today, obviously. I think there are a lot of challenges to that plan. I don’t think that is the plan that they are for sure going with. I could be wrong. I would have to look into it a little more, but it would definitely be challenging.
“Now, maybe that is something that we have to do just because of the times that we’re in, and if that is our only option to play then maybe it is our only option to play. I think there’s definitely a lot of hurdles and challenges that need to be talked through.”
