In his first 10 games this season, Christian Yelich batted .353 with zero home runs and a single RBI. Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Brewers' Christian Yelich returns from IL, batting third vs. Royals

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 5/18/21

It seemed earlier on Tuesday the Milwaukee Brewers would bring two-time All-Star and 2018 National League Most Valuable Player Christian Yelich back from the injured list slowly ahead of Thursday's off day.

That's not the case.

Yelich is back in the lineup and batting third as the designated hitter for Tuesday's matchup at the Kansas City Royals:

Look who's at DH

: @BallySportWI
: @620wtmj #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/SeXGwumh4D
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) May 18, 2021

Yelich appeared in only nine games last month before he went on the IL with back issues and then returned for one appearance against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 3. While he notched two hits in that contest, he was quickly on the IL again with a back strain and hasn't played since.

As Adam McCalvy noted for the MLB website, Yelich tested his back during a weekend rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Nashville.

"Obviously, it went well. I felt good enough to be here," Yelich said of that experience. "I don't really want to get into any of the specific details or anything like that. But I ended up feeling better and doing some stuff that I feel worked for me. That's why I felt good enough to go on rehab assignment and am back here today."

In his first 10 games this season, Yelich batted .353 with zero home runs and a single RBI.

Entering play Tuesday, the Brewers were 21-20 overall and in second place in the NL Central, two games back of the St. Louis Cardinals.

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