NEW YORK — With about two weeks remaining before the regular season began, the Miami Marlins signed left fielder Christian Yelich to a seven-year, $49.7 million extension.
They re-signed Yelich after his first two full seasons in the majors had gone very well, but so far, his third has not begun on a good note.
On Sunday, Yelich struck out in three of his five hitless at-bats and lowered his average to .200. He struck out swinging twice against New York starter Matt Harvey and also struck out swinging for the final out of the seventh as left fielder Giancarlo Stanton loomed on-deck as the tying run.
Yelich is now 2-for-22 on Miami’s road trip and, since it started, his average has dropped from .304 while his on-base percentage has dived from .407 to .265. He has 13 strikeouts this season and nine have been on this road trip.
“I’m trying to remember a time where I’ve felt this terrible up there, but I really can’t,” he said after Sunday’s 7-6 loss to the Mets. “I don’t know what’s going and (I’m) kind of just competing and still battling up there and eventually that turns around too.
“Anytime you punch out seven times in two games, it’s not good and I need to be better. The team needs me to be better and I just have to own it.”
One thing that Yelich said was not a problem was any issues with his back that caused him to sit out the final two games in Atlanta.
Instead it’s the timing at the plate, as noted by manager Mike Redmond.
“He’s just a little late, just a little late.”