Yelich, the No. 2 hitter for first-place Milwaukee, was one of three Miami outfielders the Cardinals targeted this past winter as the desired addition to their lineup, and they acquired his teammate, Marcell Ozuna. Two members of the Marlins diaspora, Yelich and Ozuna, have kept in touch, talked at length Tuesday, and are now featured hitters for two National League Central rivals. Yelich’s .310 average and three runs Monday have paced Milwaukee’s rise while Ozuna’s struggles and grope for power have been a part of the Cardinals’ mercurial offense. Yelich doesn’t expect Ozuna’s search to last long.
Yelich, 26, has played on a team with Ozuna since Class A, when he was a teenager.