For the fifth time in six seasons, the Milwaukee Brewers are heading to the MLB Postseason. With their 16-1 win over the Miami Marlins on Friday night, the Brewers clinched a wild card spot at the very least. With one more win this year (or one more loss by the Chicago Cubs), Milwaukee will clinch their third National League Central Division title.
Obviously, in a 16-1 blowout win, serious milestones, stats, and history is going to be accomplished. The Brewers’ throttling of the Marlins was no exception. Christian Yelich, who hit two home runs, joined a club that only three other players in franchise history are in. Rowdy Tellez, for his part, made Major League history with his ninth inning pitching appearance (and joined some special names in team history as well).
Christian Yelich Is the Fourth Milwaukee Brewers Player with at Least Three 100-Run Seasons
What a year it has been for Christian Yelich! In his first two years with the Brewers, Yelich hit .327/.415/.631 with 80 home runs and 207 RBI, won the 2018 NL MVP Award, and earned the richest contract extension in franchise history.
But then, in September of 2019, Yelich fouled a ball off of his kneecap. While he still won the NL batting title that year (for the second consecutive year) and finished second in NL MVP voting, his confidence in his swing was gone.
From 2020-2022, Yelich hit just .243/.358/.388 with 35 home runs and 130 RBI. He struggled so much, his power swing gone. But he was still adept at one thing: getting on base. Despite his low batting average, Yelich still scored 99 runs last year.
Late last season, Craig Counsell moved Yelich up to the leadoff spot and his batting numbers started to improve. So much so that he has spent the majority of the 2023 season as the team’s leadoff hitter. This has allowed him to be the team’s leading run scorer as his .363 on base percentage is his best since 2019.
With his two home runs and four runs scored on Friday, Yelich now has 102 runs scored this season. According to Mike Vassallo, Yelich is the fourth Brewers player to have at least three 100-run seasons. He joins Robin Yount (five), Paul Molitor (four), and Ryan Braun (four).
Rowdy Tellez Is the First Position Player in Major League History to Be on the Mound When Clinching a Playoff Berth
According to Elias Sports, Rowdy Tellez is the first position player ever to be the pitcher getting the final outs of a game in which his team clinched a postseason berth.
Tellez’s final line was one inning pitched, one hit allowed, no runs, and one strikeout.
Oh, and the Brewers made sure they got that ball for him:
Rowdy’s first strikeout. 😂 pic.twitter.com/f0wlR4G4FA
— Sophia Minnaert (@SophiaMinnaert) September 23, 2023
Interestingly, Tellez did not play in this game offensively or defensively until he came into pitch. Carlos Santana started and finished the game at first base while Mark Canha served as the designated hitter.
Rowdy Tellez Joins a List of Elite Milwaukee Brewers Pitchers Who Clinched Postseason Berths
2008 National League Wild Card
The only current Brewers pitcher that was on the mound when Milwaukee previously clinched a playoff spot is Adrian Houser, who did so in 2020. Adam McCalvy tweeted out the entire list along with one of the best interviews one will ever see:
Pitchers who secured the final out on the day the Brewers clinched a postseason berth:
1981: Rollie Fingers
1982: Bob McClure
2008: CC Sabathia
2011: John Axford
2018: Josh Hader
2019: Junior Guerra
2020: Adrian Houser
2021: Josh Hader
2023: Rowdy Tellez pic.twitter.com/It7vgDBubx— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) September 23, 2023
In the interview, Tellez reveals he used one of Wade Miley’s gloves (both of them being left-handed). He also revealed it was the first time he pitched in a game since his junior year of high school.
Legendary.
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