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Brewers: Why Christian Yelich Can Eclipse the 60 Home Run Mark

Manny Gómez|
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MAY 24: Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Miller Park on May 24, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MAY 24: Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Miller Park on May 24, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

In the history of baseball, only five players have ever hit 60 or more home runs in a single season. This season, Brewers superstar Christian Yelich is threatening to become number six.

Prior to the 2018 season, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich established himself as one of the best players in baseball. This season, he’s looking to join an elite class of players ever to join the 60 home run club.

After Sunday’s home run against the Philadelphia Phillies, Yelich’s total reached 21 in just 48 regular season games. This puts him ahead of every member of the 60 HR club but two, 1998 Mark McGwire and 2001 Barry Bonds.

This raises the question: Can Christian Yelich become baseball’s next 60 home run hitter?

If we look closely at the eight instances in which a player hit at least 60 home runs in a single season, you’d have to think that Yelich has a pretty good chance of doing it too.

  • Babe Ruth, 1927 – 18 HR through 48 games | 60 HR overall
  • Roger Maris, 1961 – 16 HR through 48 games | 61 HR overall
  • Mark McGwire, 1998 – 24 HR through 48 games | 70 HR overall
  • Mark McGwire, 1999 – 15 HR through 48 games | 65 HR overall
  • Sammy Sosa, 1998 –  9 HR through 48 games | 66 HR overall
  • Sammy Sosa, 1999 – 17 HR through 48 games | 63 HR overall
  • Sammy Sosa, 2001 – 14 HR through 48 games | 64 HR overall
  • Barry Bonds, 2001 – 26 HR through 48 games | 73 HR overall

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Now, this season, Yelich has been sidelined twice due to back stiffness. If that continues, it will impede his ability to make history. However, despite missing 7 of the team’s 55 games this season, Yelich remains on pace to play in 141 of the team’s games and hit 62 HR.

By comparison, the second-best home run hitter, Los Angeles Dodgers star Cody Bellinger has 19 home runs in 52 games played. At this pace, Bellinger would finish the season with 57 home runs, which is still quite a tremendous feat.

Now, I’m sure that if you ask Christian Yelich whether this is something he’s aiming for this season, he’d explain how winning a championship with the Milwaukee Brewers is his main priority. No one is denying this, but wouldn’t it be fun to see a player mash 60 or more again?

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