This year’s Home Run Derby lost one of its biggest stars when it was reported that Christian Yelich will not take part in the event. Yelich is currently leading the league with 31 home runs, and is looking to repeat as the National League MVP. Unfortunately, an injury will keep him out of the competition, but he is hopeful that he can compete in the All-Star Game after being voted in for the second straight season.
Extremely disappointed to not be able to participate in the HR Derby tomorrow. Always been a dream but unfortunately things don’t always go your way and I’m not physically able. I’m sorry if anybody was let down but I hope to be apart of it again at some point in the future.
— Christian Yelich (@ChristianYelich) July 7, 2019
Yelich was held out of Milwaukee’s game against Pittsburgh on Sunday due to a back injury, and the Brewers want to keep their superstar healthy for the second half of the season with the NL Central race wide open. Before the game, Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell had this to say:
“Just looking at him, I felt like we were at the red line with him, so to speak, and that a day here, he needs it. It’s important that we don’t get past that red line. So that’s where we’re at.”
Yelich was one of the favorites (along with the Pirates’ Josh Bell) to win the Home Run Derby according to online sportsbooks. His absence makes Bell the favorite coming into Monday night’s event at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. It’s a shame that Yelich won’t take part in the event after sending some balls into the Allegheny River over the weekend.
2019 Home Run Derby: Christian Yelich out with injury, Matt Chapman added to fieldhttps://t.co/PvWsoiWBSV pic.twitter.com/tmrdGZ08Qv
— CBS Sports MLB (@CBSSportsMLB) July 7, 2019
Matt Chapman will replace Christian Yelich as the eighth participant in the 2019 Home Run Derby. Chapman has hit 21 home runs in 89 games this season, and the 26-year-old third baseman for the Oakland Athletics has had his most powerful season at the plate. He has a .534 slugging percentage this season, but he is considered a longshot to win this event.
Aside from Chapman and Bell, the other six participants in tonight’s Home Run Derby are Pete Alonso, Ronald Acuna Jr., Alex Bregman, Joc Pederson, Carlos Santana, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
H/T: CBS Sports
