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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