"I gotta put Shohei Ohtani No.1" - Christian Yelich names his top 5 MLB players, featuring Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper
2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich had a wonderful 2024 season before back surgery ended his campaign. Though he was on course to become an MVP contender in the season, Yelich didn't name himself when asked to list the top five players in MLB now.
Yelich was a recent guest on the "Thanalysis Show", hosted by Thanasis, the brother of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the 2x NBA MVP. The Brewers' 3x All-Star named his top five MLB players on the show, upon the insistence of Antetokounmpo.
"You know Shohei Ohtani?," Yelich asked the host [1:28:02]. "He's doing some pretty special stuff right now. He pitches and hits which usually people don't do. He is like setting, he's like making history feels like every night right now. Guy is really really talented. I gotta put him number one.
After picking Ohtani, Yelich found it difficult to pick 5 players from the plethora of MLB superstars. However, he named four more superstars of the game. [1:28:37]
"Bobby Witt Jr. I think he's pretty good. Aaron Judge (of) Yankees. I think Bryce Harper, I think he's up there. I mean there's so many, yeah Mike Trout," said Christian Yelich.
The former NL MVP's top five picks are not surprising. Four of the five will be multiple-time MVPs by the end of the current season. Witt Jr. is the odd one, but he won the AL batting title in 2024, defeating Judge. Moreover, many analysts have predicted the shortstop to be a future MVP.
Christian Yelich grateful for the 2019 ESPN Body Issue shoot
Christian Yelich was the cover athlete for the 2019 ESPN Body Issue. Initially, Yelich had reservations about stripping naked for it. The former MVP talked about it to Antetokounmpo. The left fielder revealed he received love and hate from fans after it. Nonetheless, he remains grateful he did it. [39:56]
"I was really happy I did it after it was done, you know, like looking back on it. And maybe that's why I think it was like one of my favorite things, because it’s something that I typically wouldn't do but did it anyway, and it kind of was way outside the box. Yes, it was just like a really cool life experience. I’m still talking to you about it seven years later," said Yelich.
Christian Yelich was an MVP contender before his season-ending back surgery. Even in his absence, the Brewers played well, reaching the Wild Card Series where they lost to the New York Mets. Rookier Jackson Chourio had a standout year for the team. With Yelich in full health, the Brewers will be a serious contender in 2025.