Brewers All-Star OF Christian Yelich opts for rest instead of season-ending back surgery

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich was placed on the 10-day injured list with lower back inflammation on Wednesday. Instead of opting for season-ending back surgery, the All-Star outfielder plans to rest and rehabilitate his back, according to a report from The Athletic. He is also considering the possibility of surgery in the offseason.

The Brewers announced the move to the IL on Wednesday, one day after removing Yelich from a game after his back tightened up. The Brewers also reinstated catcher Gary Sánchez from the injured list.

Yelich underwent an examination on Thursday to form a plan to rehabilitate the injury, which leaves open the possibility of returning this season.

Yelich, 32, has enjoyed a resurgent season for the NL Central-leading Brewers. He earned his third All-Star Game appearance this season and leads the NL in batting average (.315) and on-base percentage (.406). He also has 11 homers, 42 RBIs and 21 steals in 73 games.

But he 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.

Sánchez, 31, has been out for the last month with a calf strain. He is batting .218 with a .293 on-base percentage, seven homers and 21 RBIs in 51 games.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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