The Milwaukee Brewers and their brand of selfless baseball are NL Central champions again

Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich marked Roberto Clemente Day in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, a day after Major League Baseball (MLB) named him the club’s nominee for the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award. This marks Yelich’s second nomination in three years, with the first occurring in 2023. MLB announced all 30 nominees on Monday, with the winner determined through a combination of fan voting and a panel of experts.

Yelich spoke about his nomination, Clemente’s legacy, and his nine-season tenure with the Milwaukee Brewers in a video posted by Hunter Baumgardt on X. For Yelich, the nomination holds special significance, as it comes with a chance to give back to Milwaukee and beyond. He expressed his gratitude for being recognized and emphasized the importance of community support, stating, “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.”

The Roberto Clemente Day was established in 2002 to honor the late Hall of Famer and 15-time All-Star, who died in a plane crash in 1972 while delivering aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Yelich, who wore the No. 21 uniform during his time with the Miami Marlins, where he played his first five MLB seasons, noted the significance of wearing the same number in Pittsburgh.

Yelich joined the Brewers in 2018, after being traded from Miami. During his nine years in Milwaukee, he won the National League MVP award in his first season. He recounted how the time spent in Milwaukee has been a significant chapter in his life, adding, “It’s going to always be a big part and chapter of my life with a lot of special things that haven’t happened there.”

Beyond his baseball career, Yelich has been actively involved in charity work, supporting various organizations through an event he organizes. He explained that the event began small but has grown significantly, thanks to community support and endorsements from influential figures in Milwaukee. Yelich emphasized the event's role in giving back to the community that has supported him throughout the years, stating, “It’s kind of just organically and naturally grown, which has been awesome.”