The Miami Marlins are set to give Christian Yelich a lengthy and rich contract extension worth $49 million for the next seven seasons in Major League Baseball, or MLB. The 6-foot-3 left fielder was the first round draft pick out of high school by the Marlins in 2010 and has played one full season, in 2014, with Miami.

The deal was reported by MLB Insider for Yahoo Sports Jeff Passan who also stated that a club is option is available in the contract for the eighth season worth $15 million and that the overall value of the contract could reach more than $63.32 million.


Yelich debuted with the Marlins in 2013 when he played in 62 games and had his first full season the following year playing in 144 games. For his career, the 23 year old has a batting average of .285 with 234 hits, 13 home runs, 70 runs batted in and 31 stolen bases. Yelich was the 23rd overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft after attending Westlake High School in his hometown in Thousand Oaks, California.

Yelich won the MLB National League Golden Glove award last season after little majors experience in his first year and less than two years after playing at the minors for the Jacksonville Suns. Yelich’s extension means the Marlins will have a dangerous young outfield which will also feature right fielder Giancarlo Stanton who owns the biggest contract in United States’ sports history with a $325 million deal over the next 13 seasons.

Email j.gloria@IBTimes.com.au to contact author.

RELATED STORIES