Christian Yelich’s Performance Analysis
Christian Yelich, the star outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers, has had a rough patch in 2021 compared to his glory days with the Miami Marlins. Let’s break down what’s been going on and how it’s hit his batting average.
2021 Performance Slump
According to Brew Crew Ball, Yelich’s 2021 season has been a letdown. His power has taken a nosedive, and his batting average has slipped to .248. This is a big drop from his earlier seasons when he was tearing it up with the Marlins.
Miami Marlins vs. Milwaukee Brewers Stats
Back with the Marlins, Yelich was a hitting machine, boasting a .290 average and a 122 wRC+ over five seasons. This stark contrast shows just how much his performance has dipped since joining the Brewers.
Batting Average Woes
Several things have dragged down Yelich’s batting average. One major issue is his increased ground ball rate in 2021. Even though he hit a lot of grounders with the Marlins, he still managed a solid .290 average.
But in 2021, his exit velocity and launch angle on ground balls were off. This led to a lower expected batting average on those grounders, hurting his overall stats (Brew Crew Ball).
On top of that, Yelich had some rotten luck with line drives. He was one of the unluckiest hitters when it came to line drives, with a low batting average on liners compared to others who hit at least 50 line drives (Brew Crew Ball).
Understanding these trends gives us a clearer picture of why Yelich struggled in 2021. Despite the slump, his talent and past success with the Marlins suggest he can bounce back and find his groove again.
What’s Up with Christian Yelich’s Game?
Let’s break down what’s been going on with Christian Yelich’s performance. We’ll check out his ground ball rate, exit velocity and launch angle, and how luck has played a part in his batting.
Ground Ball Rate: Friend or Foe?
In 2021, Yelich hit more ground balls than usual. Now, ground balls aren’t always bad, but they don’t usually turn into extra-base hits like line drives or fly balls do. So, more ground balls can mean fewer big hits.
But hey, remember when Yelich was with the Miami Marlins? He still rocked a .290 batting average and a 122 wRC+ over five seasons, even with a higher ground ball rate. So, it’s not all doom and gloom (Brew Crew Ball).
Exit Velocity and Launch Angle: The Power Duo
Exit velocity and launch angle are big deals for hitters. In 2021, Yelich’s numbers here were off. His average exit velocity and launch angle on ground balls were lower than usual, which means he wasn’t hitting the ball as hard or at the right angles. This led to a lower expected batting average on grounders. Basically, weaker hits meant fewer good outcomes at the plate.
Luck: The Wild Card
Luck’s a funny thing in baseball. In 2021, Yelich had some bad breaks with line drives. He was 22nd from the bottom in batting average on liners among players who hit at least 50 line drives. Translation: he was one of the unluckiest line drive hitters that season.
These factors might explain why Yelich’s performance dipped in 2021. But baseball’s a game of many variables. It’ll be interesting to see how he adjusts and what changes he makes in the coming seasons.
Power Analysis
Let’s break down Christian Yelich’s performance at the plate, focusing on his home run power and his knack for hitting into the gaps.
Home Run Power Decrease
One glaring change in Yelich’s 2021 season, compared to his Miami Marlins days, is the drop in home run power. The long balls that used to soar over the fences are now landing in outfielders’ gloves. This dip has been a big factor in his overall offensive slump.
According to Brew Crew Ball, Yelich’s home run numbers have taken a hit. He’s still making solid contact, but those hits just aren’t clearing the fences like they used to. This power outage has definitely hurt his overall stats.
Gap Power Resilience
Despite the home run drought, Yelich’s ability to hit into the gaps has stayed strong. Gap power is all about smacking the ball between outfielders for extra bases, like doubles and triples.
Even in a season where homers are down, Yelich has kept hitting hard liners into the gaps. Unfortunately, many of these well-struck balls have been caught, turning potential extra-base hits into outs. Still, his gap power shows he’s making solid contact.
While the drop in home runs is worrying, Yelich’s consistent gap power hints that he still has the skills to bounce back. His ability to hit the ball hard into the gaps suggests he could regain his home run power with some tweaks.
In short, Christian Yelich’s home run power has dipped in 2021, but his gap power remains strong. As he fine-tunes his approach, it’ll be interesting to see if he can bring back those big hits.