Athletics' Chapman replacing Yelich in Home Run Derby
Oakland Athletics third baseman Matt Chapman will replace Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich in Monday's Home Run Derby. Yelich is sitting out the event due to a back injury, the league announced.
Yelich, MLB's home run leader, was slated to square off against Toronto Blue Jays rookie Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the first round of the annual event. That test now belongs to Chapman.
Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters before Sunday's game that Yelich was in need of a day off and was on the bench in the series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Christian Yelich had reached a “red line,” Craig Counsell said, and needed a day off. Not ideal going into All-Star Week. pic.twitter.com/F7yWD4DsOd
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) July 7, 2019
Yelich expressed his disappointment in missing the derby, according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. He added another message of apology to his fans on Twitter later Sunday.
Extremely disappointed to not be able to participate in the HR Derby tomorrow. Always been a dream but unfortunately things don’t always go your way and I’m not physically able. I’m sorry if anybody was let down but I hope to be apart of it again at some point in the future.
— Christian Yelich (@ChristianYelich) July 7, 2019
Though he won't participate in the derby, Yelich has not been ruled out of Tuesday's All-Star Game.
Chapman has received more renown in his career for his glove at the hot corner but has seen his power develop in recent seasons. He hit 24 homers in 2018 and has already amassed 21 long balls in 89 games this season.
The 26-year-old is pumped to join the competition, too, where he'll face pitches from his father, Jim.
"It's something I've always dreamed of doing," Chapman told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Home Run Derby will kick off at 8 p.m., ET on Monday at Cleveland's Progressive Field.