Christian Yelich has quietly crafted probably the most underrated seasons in Main League Baseball this 12 months. Whereas gamers like Shohei Ohtani (-310) and Bryce Harper (+650) are placing up spectacular resumés for the Nationwide League Most Beneficial Participant Award, do not allow them to overshadow the exceptional efficiency Christian Yelich (+6500) has delivered to date this season.
Posting first-half numbers higher than his MVP-winning 12 months in 2018, Yelich is making a case for himself on this 12 months’s discourse. Whereas a Comeback Participant of the 12 months Award is greater than probably in Yelich’s future, the 32-year-old is vying so as to add one other piece of {hardware} to his assortment. A number of elements from his season contribute to the potential realization of that end result.
Statistics as of July 13, 2024. Odds by way of FanDuel.
1. High batting IQ
Yelich’s capacity to distribute hits to all areas of the sphere rewards him with top-of-the-line offensive spray charts within the league. Regardless of his tendency to tug the ball to the precise aspect, Yelich finds methods to punish fielders who modify for this by driving the ball up the center and to the other area. The high-level techniques Yelich crafts have resulted in his .327 batting common, the second-highest in MLB.
One more reason for Yelich’s excessive common stems from his distinctive work when enjoying small ball. Whereas advancing the runner 90 ft is most batters’ aim in a bunt scenario, Yelich works methods to each advance runners and nonetheless accumulate a base hit.
