Get the bubble wrap: Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio and friends look ready for Brewers opening day
PHOENIX – Christian Yelich stood in the box, hands out, and stared out at the mound.
There stood Giants pitcher Jordan Hicks, a flamethrower if there ever was one, behind in the count, three balls to no strikes with the bases loaded. If ever there was a time to let it rip, this – a spring training game – was it.
Yelich sent a 97 mph sinker from Hicks sailing even faster out to center and over the wall, putting a dent in the asphalt as it caromed up a walkway. The grand slam was Yelich’s third home run in 12 at-bats, all of which sailed out to straightaway center or the opposite way.
Christian Yelich. 3-0 swinging. Grand slam. pic.twitter.com/GohaWUvLn8
— Curt Hogg (@CyrtHogg) March 14, 2025
Yeah, he’s about ready for opening day.
“I hope he stays healthy and keeps doing what he’s doing,” manager Pat Murphy said. “He said ‘I’m pretty close. I know what I need to do.’ It’s not about the number of at-bats or whatever. It’s about being in there and getting that feeling, getting that timing back.”
Yelich isn’t the only one ready to be packed in bubble wrap and shipped up to Yankee Stadium for the season opener March 27. We’ve officially made the spring training turn and are on the back nine, a happening of which there is no greater sure sign of than players asking how many days are left in camp.
“I’m getting close,” said catcher William Contreras. “Once you get to about five days to go, I’m ready to go. Flip the switch.”
While the Brewers aren’t quite there yet – the final spring game is 10 days away – they sure had a lineup full of players who looked quite bubble-wrap ready in Friday’s 11-5 win over the San Francisco Giants at American Family Fields of Phoenix.
Take Sal Frelick, for instance. In the third inning, the outfielder pounded two foul balls into his right foot, the second of which resulted in him laying in the batter’s box on his back in pain. Two pitches later, he legged out an infield hit.
That sound like midseason form for Frelick, who then dodged a tag at first base for another infield knock in the fourth and later made a highlight-reel grab in right field, to you?
“That’s exactly right,” Murphy said.
BOX SCORE: Brewers 11, Giants 5
Brice Turang had two opposite field hits. Joey Ortiz, who’s been flashing impressive bat speed this spring, popped a homer. Jackson Chourio had three hits, including a ringing double and a bunt single, a day after doubling and throwing out a runner at home. William Contreras smoked a ball 110 mph right back up the box.
Even Rhys Hoskins, who didn’t get a hit on the day but leads the Cactus League in homers, came within inches of his sixth long ball of spring but was robbed by a dazzling catch 400 feet from home plate.
Of the Brewers nine position player starters from their ‘A lineup’ Friday, six are currently carrying an OPS north of 1.000 and the lowest is Turang at .722.
“I feel like I’m right where I need to be,” Ortiz said, speaking for himself but also certainly representing the thoughts of many teammates. “It’s definitely exciting. Usually toward the end of spring training you’re ready to go and ready to start playing meaningful games and racking up wins.”
Said Murphy: “Guys are getting their timing. Guys are getting a little more confident.”
Even some of the Brewers’ bullpen arms are looking locked in for the soon-approaching date in New York. Bryan Hudson went 1 ⅓ scoreless innings and Joel Payamps struck out two in a clean inning of work that included some nasty sliders.
Starting pitcher Nestor Cortes didn’t have great results – three runs on seven hits in 3 ⅓ innings – but got the work needed to get opening-day ready done, too. The lefty also struck out seven in his second Cactus League game with the Brewers.
They’re close. There’s no question about that. But they’re not there yet.
“This is where you build the volume,” said Oliver Dunn, who doubled Friday. “You’re a little tired but you have to keep whatever feeling you have going so you’re ready when the season starts.”
Prospect watch
Marco Dinges, the Brewers’ fourth round pick out of Florida State last summer, hit a three-run homer in his Cactus League debut. Luis Pena, a standout in the Dominican Summer League last year, also made his first appearances in a big-league spring game and drew a walk.
Pat Murphy, unplugged
"We’re going to keep ‘connoitering’ it – or reconnoitering it." -- Murphy on the Brewers’ infield alignment. Turang started at shortstop with Ortiz at second for the third straight game. Previously, Ortiz had gotten most of the reps at short, but Milwaukee is considering a different deployment of their top infielders.
Brewers spring schedule
Brewers (split squad) vs. Athletics, Saturday 3:10 p.m: Milwaukee RHP Freddy Peralta vs. Sacramento RHP Mitch Spence. Radio – 620 WTMJ.
Brewers (split squad) at Angels, Saturday 3:10 p.m: Milwaukee RHP Tobias Myers vs. RHP Jack Kochanowicz. TV – FanDuel Sports Wisconsin.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers beat Giants in spring training game as Christian Yelich homers
Topics
-
NCAA Tournament bubble gets major shakeup in Bracketology days before March Madness
Selection Sunday is just days away and the fight for NCAA men's tournament spots is at its climax. There was major movement on the bubble Thursday.Yahoo Sports - 18h -
Yankees name Carlos Rodón opening day starter
NEW YORK — With Gerrit Cole lost to Tommy John surgery, the Yankees have settled on a new opening day starter. Carlos Rodón will take the ball when the Bombers host the Brewers on March 27. Aaron ...Yahoo Sports - 4h -
'The fire has been stoked': Free Jacks looking forward to 2025 home opener in Quincy
After a 1-2 start, the Free Jacks hope to use their St. Patrick's Day home opener festival to get back on track.Yahoo Sports - 20h -
Nearing end of short spring, Dodgers, Cubs make final preparations for season opener in Japan
Shohei Ohtani’s bat is ready for the Los Angeles Dodgers while Shota Imanaga has looked good on the mound for the Chicago Cubs with less than 10 days remaining before baseball’s regular-season ...Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Bracketology Bubble Watch: North Carolina in action, Mountain West trio fight for NCAA Tournament lives
A look at the bubble teams in action during Thursday's conference tournaments, including a double-bubble gameCBS Sports - 1d -
Lubbock Christian women outlast UCCS in D-II NCAA Tournament opener
Regional player of the year Grace Foster scored 32 points as No. 10 Lubbock Christian rallied late to beat UC-Colorado Springs in South Central RegionYahoo Sports - 3h -
Game Wrap | Purdue 68, Michigan 86 | Shots don't fall, defense falters
Second day legs, or a season long trend, Purdue's offense wasn't good enough to make up for a defense that had no answer for Michigan in its second game in two days in the Big Ten Tournament and ...Yahoo Sports - 1h -
The etiquette of digital debts among friends
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal looked at the "unspoken rules" of digital payment apps like Venmo and tried to decipher the proper etiquette for requesting money back from friends. The ...CBS News - 4d -
Report: Liverpool Ready to Launch €60m Bid for Key Summer Target
Liverpool’s €60m Bid for Kenan Yıldız: A Smart Move or a Pricey Gamble?Liverpool are reportedly preparing an opening €60m bid for Juventus’ teenage sensation Kenan Yıldız as they look to s...Yahoo Sports - 18h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Alabama basketball is everything Kentucky wants to be — and will very soon | C.L. Brown
Mark Pope's Kentucky basketball team has been inconsistent this season, but the Wildcats aren't that far from returning to the top of nation's elite.Yahoo Sports - 15m -
Love helps Arizona topple short-handed No. 9 Texas Tech 86-80 in Big 12 tourney semifinals
Caleb Love scored 27 points and Arizona took advantage of injuries that left Texas Tech short-handed for an 86-80 victory over the No. 9 Red Raiders in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals Friday ...Yahoo Sports - 17m -
The 3-pointer: Takeaways from No. 5 Alabama's win over No. 15 Kentucky
The Tide’s offense got going early, running effective half-court sets early to open Kentucky’s defense and go on a 3-point barrage in the second half. Alabama’s efficient offense was matched with ...Yahoo Sports - 20m -
Kentucky basketball can't hang with Alabama in SEC Tournament quarterfinal, awaits NCAA bid
Mark Pope's short-handed Kentucky basketball team was routed by Alabama on Friday in an SEC Tournament quarterfinal in Nashville.Yahoo Sports - 21m -
Parker Kelly scores 2 as Avalanche beat Flames 4-2 to move to 7-0-1 in last 8 games
Parker Kelly scored twice and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Calgary Flames 4-2 on Friday night. Ryan Lindgren and Valeri Nichushkin also scored for Colorado, which has points in eight straight ...Yahoo Sports - 21m
More in Sports
-
Men's Bracketology: UNC is still in, plus more updates from a busy Friday
Despite UNC's loss to Duke, it remains in the bracket for now.ESPN - 12m -
Bulls banners 'Disturbed' during show; need fixes
All six Bulls championship banners were pulled from the rafters after being damaged Saturday night at a concert by Chicago area band Disturbed.ESPN - 12m -
Source: Kupp to join Seahawks on 3-year deal
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp has reached agreement on a three-year, $45 million contract with the Seahawks, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Friday.ESPN - 12m -
Thomas ties TPC record after 16-shot turnaround
Despite a bogey on 18, Justin Thomas fired a jaw-dropping 62 that tied the TPC Sawgrass record (Tom Hoge, 2023) and gave him a whopping 16-shot improvement over Thursday's 78.ESPN - 12m -
NWSL's BOS Nation to be renamed after backlash
Boston's 2026 NWSL franchise announced Friday that it will officially change its name following a highly-ridiculed launch last fall.ESPN - 12m