Cincinnati Reds positional preview vs. NL Central: left field

1. Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers

Can we just give the NL MVP Award to Christian Yelich right now? After the Milwaukee Brewers signed outfielder Avisaíl García during the offseason, all signs point to Christian Yelich being the team’s starting left fielder after spending the majority of his career in right field.

Sooner rather than later, Christian Yelich is going to win the Triple Crown. The left-handed hitting former MVP has won the batting title two years in a row, and had he not finished the 2019 season on the injured list, I believe that Yelich could have taken home the Triple Crown last season. The guy is that good.

He’s also a Reds killer. In addition to embarrassing the Cincinnati Reds by hitting for the cycle twice during the 2018 season, Yelich has hit .304/.383/.584 with 14 home runs and 42 RBIs against the Redlegs. Only the Philadelphia Phillies, whom Yelich has played against 80 times during his career, have given up more RBIs to the former MVP.

Christian Yelich was rewarded handsomely by the Milwaukee Brewers over the winter with a gargantuan new contract, virally guaranteeing that the outfielder will be a thorn in the Reds side for years to come.

The left field position in the NL Central is very fluid. While We ranked Jesse Winker at the bottom, a good season could see the New York native leapfrog a few players within the division. With the exception of Christian Yelich, the gap between left fielders in the NL Central is not that wide.