Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich marked Roberto Clemente Day in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, one day after Major League Baseball named him the club’s nominee for the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award.
The nomination is Yelich’s second in three years. He was also Milwaukee’s nominee in 2023. MLB announced all 30 nominees Monday, and the winner is decided by a combination of fan voting and a blue-ribbon panel.
Yelich discussed the nomination, Clemente’s legacy, and his nine seasons in Milwaukee in a video posted to X by Hunter Baumgardt.
Christian Yelich is the Brewers nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award.
Yelich talks about what that means to him and how important it is to give back to Milwaukee and beyond
Apr 10, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich (22) warms up in the team’s new City Connect uniform before game against the Washington Nationals at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The Brewers opened Clemente Day in the city where Clemente played all 18 of his major league seasons. Yelich could not recall Milwaukee being in Pittsburgh on that date before.
“It’s always a big honor,” Yelich said. “You get nominated for a Clemente award and you don’t do any of that good stuff in order to get the award, but it’s obviously nice to be recognized. It’s nice to be good in the community. It’s nice to support those to support us kind of what I’ve said at the event, all that stuff throughout the year.”
“But yeah, it’s always a great honor and something that is pretty special,” Yelich continued. “It’s extra special this year being in Pittsburgh. I’m not sure if we’ve been here before on Clemente Day, so pretty cool day.”
MLB established Roberto Clemente Day in 2002. Clemente, a Hall of Famer and 15-time All-Star, died in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve 1972 while delivering supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
Clemente wore No. 21 in Pittsburgh. Yelich wore the same number with the Miami Marlins, where he spent his first five major league seasons.
“A little bit, well, I was number 21 with the Marlins, so coming through here a little bit earlier in my career,” Yelich said. “Got a little bit of a rundown, I know the museum’s here. Haven’t actually had a chance to go there yet, I knew that before. Playing days are over, so I need to go check that out at some point.”
“But just a great legacy that he had, just a great human being, great person,” Yelich added. “Not only a tremendous player, but did a ton of good off the field as well.”
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Jun 28, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich (22) singles during the third inning against Chicago Cubs at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Milwaukee acquired Yelich from Miami before the 2018 season. He won the National League MVP award that year, his first with the Brewers.
Before the trade, Milwaukee was a three-day road trip and little else for the Thousand Oaks, Calif., native.
“It’s been great,” Yelich said. “What is this, my ninth year here now, so times fly, and it’s been a crazy nine years, and just being a part of the community, and getting to know the city of Milwaukee, kind of like I have.”
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“Honestly, before I got traded over here, I didn’t know much about it besides staying at the Pfister and going to the stadium, which was Miller Park at the time,” Yelich continued. “Then we’d leave after three days. So getting to spend a lot of time there for the last nine years has been an amazing nine years of my life. And just being able to give a little bit back over the course of that time has been pretty special and hopefully continue for more years.”
The ballpark was renamed American Family Field in 2021. This is Yelich’s 14th major league season.
No single moment made Milwaukee home for him.
“I think it kind of just happened over the years,” Yelich said. “I’ve had a lot of great memories in Milwaukee. Milwaukee has been a really big part of my life. It’s going to always be a big part and chapter of my life with a lot of special things haven’t happened there.”
“Obviously it’s a huge part of my baseball career, my baseball life,” Yelich continued. “So, just ended up getting to know a lot of people in the community, being out in the community. Anytime you live somewhere for an extended period of time like we do, you end up meeting people, seeing people, hearing people’s stories and learning of areas of need and kind of just going from there.”
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Oct 16, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Christian Yelich (22) reacts after striking out against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth inning during game three of the NLCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Yelich’s event supports a number of organizations and has drawn backing from influential people in Milwaukee.
“It started a little bit smaller, it’s grown a little bit bigger, but originally it was just use your platform to try to do a little bit of good and see what happened,” Yelich said. “It’s been supported, the event’s been really supported by the community and a lot of people and influential people in the community to do good for a number of different organizations, so that’s been really cool to see.”
“It’s kind of just organically and naturally grown, which has been awesome,” Yelich added. “And it’s hopefully impacted people a little bit. Just a small little bit of gratitude that we can kind of show the people that support us throughout the year.”
Repeating success is the part he said does not get enough credit around the league.
“The team’s had a lot of success over the years, and you can’t take being in these positions and this kind of stuff for granted,” Yelich said. “It’s really hard to do. I know we’ve made it look like it’s not that hard to do over the years, but if you just look at other places, other teams throughout the league, of how hard it is to repeat success year after year, that kind of puts it in perspective.”
“It’s a credit to a lot of people here in this organization, a lot of the players, a lot of the front office, ownership,” Yelich continued. “When you have that kind of just sustained kind of track record, it’s a whole group effort. It’s more than just one person and certain people. It’s a whole organization-wide deal. So it’s been cool to see that evolve over the years and this place become what it’s become and kind of the standard here. And obviously, we’re looking forward to doing a lot bigger and better things this year.”
Through Sept. 9, Yelich had 1,837 career hits, 244 home runs, and 904 RBI. He is under contract with Milwaukee through the 2028 season.
from Wisconsin Sports Heroics
