Eight MLB hitters who racked up home runs despite many ground balls

Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers

Homers: 36

Ground-Ball Rate: 51.8%

Fly-Ball Rate: 23.5%

With their first National League Central title since 2011 and nearly registering the Senior Circuit’s first Triple Crown since 1937, I’d say this has been a solid first year in Milwaukee for Christian Yelich, no? He’d obviously say there’s more work to be done, but the Brewers have already gotten what they could’ve hoped for from the young outfielder.

Yelich has set new single-season career highs in nearly every important offensive category, including homers (36), runs scored (118), RBI (110), stolen bases (22), OPS (1.000), ISO (.272), and wRC+ (166), among others. The 26-year-old has always been a ground-ball-heavy hitter since debuting in 2013, but that 51.8% mark is actually the lowest it’s ever been. The difference didn’t go to his fly-ball rate, but it’s not bad to combine that with career highs in both line-drive rate (24.7%) and hard-hit rate (47.6%).

We know Miller Park is a haven for left-handed hitters, and Yelich took full advantage of that — especially after dealing with Marlins Park for so many years. He hit 22 of his 36 homers at home, along with posting a .324/.406/.655 line and a 178 wRC+.

He very well could be named the NL MVP when all is said and done, and he can thank a ridiculous second-half tear for that. Prior to the All-Star break, he owned a 122 wRC+, but that number rose to 220 following the midsummer classic.