Christian Yelich received a distinction no previous Milwaukee Brewers player had officially held when the organization named him captain on Sept. 26.

The appointment made Yelich the first captain in franchise history. He joined Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals as the only active captains in MLB.

Yelich did not accept the honor without first considering the player most closely associated with excellence in Milwaukee.

During an appearance on The Jim Rome Show on Monday, Yelich told Rome that he viewed the captaincy as an enormous honor.

Before accepting, he wanted to speak with Robin Yount because of everything the Hall of Famer represented and continues to mean to the organization. 

Yelich consequently sought Yount’s blessing.

“It was a huge honor, something that I wanted to run by Robin Yount just because of what he meant to this organization, what he still means to it... I wanted his blessing,” Yelich explained.

Manager Pat Murphy told MLB.com that Yelich made one request before the Brewers completed the appointment. He wanted the organization to consult Yount, who supported the decision wholeheartedly.

Murphy added that Yelich regards Yount as Milwaukee’s original captain, regardless of whether he formally held the title.

“He had one request that we ask Robin Yount before we do such a thing, and Robin agreed wholeheartedly,” Murphy said. "Because in Yeli’s mind, Robin is the first captain.”

Yelich has hit .277 with 186 home runs, 617 RBIs and an .846 OPS in 1.091 games with the Brewers over nine seasons.

He experienced a relatively quiet regular season offensively. He hit .235 with 12 home runs, 59 RBIs and a .692 OPS in 118 games.

His influence remained extremely valuable despite those modest results. Yelich continued leading by example. He helped Milwaukee go on an 11-2 postseason run and capture the first World Series title in franchise history.

He improved during the postseason, hitting .268 with one double, one triple, five RBIs and a .729 OPS in 12 games.

Yelich also told Rome that celebrating the World Series victory with his family represented the culmination of a much longer journey.

He credited the people who supported him and made sacrifices throughout his career, emphasizing that the accomplishment extended far beyond a single season.

"It takes a lot of people in your life to get you to that point, a lot of people that have supported you, they’ve sacrificed... It’s a journey, it’s not something that happened just this year," Yelich told Rome about celebrating the Brewers' World Series victory with his family.

That perspective helps explain why Milwaukee chose Yelich as captain even though his offensive production no longer defined his complete value.

The Brewers needed someone capable of connecting the organization’s history with its current players.

Yelich respected that responsibility enough to involve Yount before accepting the position, demonstrating an understanding that the honor belonged to more than one person.

His willingness to recognize those who came before him also strengthens his credibility within the clubhouse. Leadership carries more weight when it is demonstrated through preparation, accountability and respect rather than demanded through status.

Yelich entered the postseason after an uneven regular season but continued contributing when Milwaukee needed him. He did not allow his reduced production to diminish his responsibility to the group.

The captaincy should remain important in 2027 as the Brewers attempt to defend their World Series title. Expectations will increase, roster changes will occur and younger players will need guidance while adjusting to the pressure surrounding a defending champion.

Milwaukee will hope Yelich provides more offensively, but his role extends beyond the lineup. He represents continuity, understands the organization’s standards and has experienced both disappointment and ultimate success with the Brewers.

Winning the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays validated Milwaukee’s decision. Yelich did not merely become the first official captain in franchise history. He helped lead the Brewers to the achievement they had pursued since their beginning.