Christian Yelich Facing Season-Ending Surgery After Back Inflammation

Milwaukee Brewers All-Star outfielder Christian Yelich is facing the possibility of season-ending back surgery after being placed on the 10-day injured list with lower back inflammation.

Milwaukee Brewers All-Star outfielder Christian Yelich has been placed on the 10-day injured list with lower back inflammation, and now faces the possibility of season-ending back surgery.

The Brewers made the announcement Wednesday, one day after removing Yelich from a game after his back tightened up.

"After further evaluation today, it was determined that Christian Yelich has lower back inflammation," the Brewers said in a statement. "He will undergo an examination tomorrow morning to determine the next course of action."

If Yelich, 32, undergoes surgery, it would be a major blow to the NL Central-leading Brewers. Yelich has enjoyed a resurgent season, earning his third All-Star Game appearance this season and leading the NL in batting average (.315) and on-base percentage (.406). He also has 11 homers, 42 RBIs and 21 steals in 73 games.

However, Yelich has gone 0 for 9 since the All-Star break and is 1 for 19 over his last six games. He was 0 for 1 with two walks in a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday before getting removed in the eighth inning.

Yelich's injury is a major concern for the Brewers, who are currently 56-43 and in first place in the NL Central. The Brewers have a 5.5-game lead over the second-place St. Louis Cardinals.

Without Yelich, the Brewers will have to rely on other players to step up. Andrew McCutchen, Hunter Renfroe and Tyrone Taylor are all capable of playing the outfield, but none of them have the same impact as Yelich.

The Brewers also reinstated catcher Gary Sánchez from the injured list on Wednesday. Sánchez has been out for the last month with a calf strain.

Sánchez, 31, is batting .218 with a .293 on-base percentage, seven homers and 21 RBIs in 51 games this season. He is expected to start behind the plate for the Brewers on Wednesday night against the Cincinnati Reds.