'There's a lot in there still': Christian Yelich seeks to build off his bounce-back 2023

PHOENIX – Manager Pat Murphy has witnessed Christian Yelich ascend to the highest of highs with the Milwaukee Brewers – most notably winning the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in 2018 and finishing as runner-up in 2019.

He's also seen him struggle through the lowest of lows.

Comeback was probably the most accurate word to describe Yelich's 2023 season.

The leftfielder played 144 games, hitting .278 with an OPS of .818, 19 home runs and 76 runs batted in while also stealing 28 bases – an overall performance that was easily his best since 2019. Yelich also led off five games with homers, was Milwaukee’s best hitter against righties with a .294 average and 16 homers and enjoyed a resurgent season with the glove as well after re-dedicating himself in that area.

So what, then, should be expected out of Yelich in 2024? He turned 32 on Dec. 5 and is in Year 5 of the nine-year, $215 million contract extension he signed with the Brewers just before the pandemic in 2020.

"He'll play well, again. I think that stuff's behind him," Murphy said. "And what I mean by that stuff is, I think he put a ton of pressure on himself because of the organization making the investment in him. He's one of those guys that takes that really personally. This game is hard to play when you're divided at all, and I think that pressure kind of pulled him away from the task at hand.

"I think he was really present last year and just enjoyed it day by day, and that made a difference."

Yelich arrived at American Family Fields of Phoenix over the weekend, several days ahead of when position players needed to report and has spent the past few days slowly integrating himself and ramping up for the first full-squad workout Tuesday.

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In his first lengthy interview session with assembled media Monday, Yelich expressed satisfaction with his bounce back in 2023 and what lies ahead this season.

"I was happy. It's, you know, staying healthy," he said. "Most of the time, I felt pretty good. Made some adjustments early in the year. And I honestly felt like it was a pretty good year from those adjustments until the end of the season. I think there's room to grow and keep improving. I feel great right now and I'm looking forward to getting the season started.

"I think there's a lot in there still, a lot of good baseball that's left to be played. And I feel really good with where I'm at. Last year was a good year, and let's keep building."

Yelich also touched on a number of other topics concerning himself and the Brewers.

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Christian Yelich's thoughts on the Brewers in general

Youth is one of the words used frequently to describe the Brewers this spring.

It makes sense with seven of Milwaukee's top 10 minor-league prospects in camp as well as inexperienced returning contributors such Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, Brice Turang and Abner Uribe. And then there are the young, new faces like DL Hall and Joey Ortiz.

"We got (pitcher Brandon Woodruff) back today, which is great news. Everybody loves having him around. So that'll be good for us. But we've still got some guys who have been around here for a little while. And then a lot of talented young guys. I think we'll go as far this year as the young guys take us. Hopefully, they can take some steps.

"They got their feet wet last year, and we've got some more that will get their first taste of the big leagues this year. But they're obviously very talented players, and just trying to help him along and help them have as much success in the big leagues as possible."

The Corbin Burnes trade was 'just part of the game'

The Corbin Burnes trade rankled a lot of fans and observers. But Yelich, having been in the majors since 2013 and with the Brewers since 2018, is more realistic about the situation.

"It's just part of the game," Yelich said. "That stuff happens, especially a guy in Corbin's situation (with impending free agency). You never know what's going to happen, but I think a lot of us at the end of last year kind of had a feeling that was going to be the time where things like that started happening around here.

"Obviously, he's a very talented player. But I don't think that's a sign of us that we're not trying to compete or not be good. You know, that's just the business part of what happens around here. It was great watching him become one of the best pitchers in the game over the last few years and I'm always going to be pulling for him, always rooting for him. I think he'll have a great year in Baltimore.

"We'll miss him for sure. But we got some really talented players back, some really good young players. And now we have to find a way to compete."

Yelich says of Jackson Chourio, 'Just let him play'

Rightly or wrongly, everyone's eyes this spring – and this season – are going to be on 19-year-old outfielder Jackson Chourio, who signed a record-setting $82 million contract in December despite having played only six games above the Class AA level.

Whenever Yelich gets out onto the field with Chourio will be the first time he'll have laid eyes on the player who's expected to be roaming center field for the Brewers for a good portion of the next decade.

Yelich believes patience will be key with Chourio's development.

"He's obviously really talented for the organization to make a commitment like that," he said. "He's got a very bright future ahead of him. We've just got to let him play. Just let him play, let him be a kid, let him be a rookie in the big leagues.

"Obviously, when you sign a contract like that, there's expectations and everything that come along with that. But at the same time, just let him play. There's going to be growing pains in the big leagues, there's going to be really bright moments, there's going to be everything in between."

Yelich says his back is doing just fine

Yelich played 144 games in 2023, but missed half of September due to his balky back.

Asked about it Monday, he indicated that it wasn't really a big issue then and he feels fine now heading into the start of workouts.

"I wouldn't even say that was that big of a deal," Yelich said. "Honestly, it was a few days and kind of, the position that we were in at the time with where our standing was as far as playoffs and what we were trying to do as a team, it was moreso like, just take the time to get it fully ready to play the last 10-12 days of the season and get ready for playoffs.

"If the race kind of shaped up a little different, then maybe you're out there sooner. It wasn't that big of a deal. Honestly, it was more just talking to (Craig Counsell) and being on the same page and what we wanted to do going forward to make sure that everything was completely right at the end."

Yelich is all in on new manager Pat Murphy

If youth has been one of the prevailing storylines of camp so far, so, too, is Murphy having taken over for Counsell.

"I honestly think it'll be great. I'm super happy for him," Yelich said. "It's an opportunity that he's wanted for a while, to manage here or somewhere else in the big leagues. I think he's going to do a great job; he's been around this group for years, and the transition will be a lot easier. And there's that sense of we already know him and he knows us."

How does Yelich see the Brewers faring in 2024?

Aside from 2018, the Brewers haven't entered the season during their five-playoffs-in-seven-years run as favorites to win the NL Central Division title in the eyes of many. (They won two in that span.)

That outlook certainly won't change now, mostly due to the departure of Burnes and the absence of Woodruff, who is expected to miss all of 2024 with a shoulder injury. But Yelich still thinks there is good to come for Milwaukee, which should again benefit from a division that lacks a true runaway favorite.

"I definitely think we're going to be a competitive team this year," he said. "Even when we've been good the last few years, no one ever picks us to be good. Just because we're the Brewers and it is what it is. But I think that we have a chance to really surprise some people with the talent in this room.

"We usually always find a way to be competitive and be there at the end and give ourselves a chance. You never know what's going to happen over 162 games. It's a six-month season. There's a lot of ups and downs, there's going to be great times, there's going to be stretches where it gets really tough and rough.

"You just have to just put your head down and keep going. And we've done a really good job of that over the years. It's going to be fun to watch this new wave come up."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers' Christian Yelich out to build upon 2023 bounce-back in 2024