Baker Mayfield makes surprise appearance at Christian Yelich's MVP party

Mark Townsend
·Yahoo Sports Contributor

The Cleveland Browns bye week came at a great time for quarterback Baker Mayfield. It allowed the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft to show up and support Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich, who was named the National League MVP by a near unanimous vote on Thursday.

Yelich received 29 first-place votes out of 30 on ballots from the Baseball Writers Association of America. New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom received the other first-place vote after winning the NL Cy Young award.

Front and center among those celebrating the moment with Yelich was one of the NFL’s fastest rising stars and perhaps the franchise player Browns fans have been seeking for nearly two decades.

Fast friends

Mayfield’s appearance drew a double-take from the MLB Network crew covering the announcement. While it caught them and other fans a little off guard, it probably shouldn’t have been a surprise to those who have followed both Yelich and Mayfield over the last few months.

As Yelich explained during spring training, they became fast friends after working out at the same training facility near Los Angeles over the winter.

Baker Mayfield and NL MVP Christian Yelich have become fast friends. (@bakermayfield)
Baker Mayfield and NL MVP Christian Yelich have become fast friends. (@bakermayfield)

“We’re pretty good friends,” Yelich said. “We’ve been working out at the same facility. He played in the Rose Bowl and he stayed out there; a lot of NFL guys come train there. I ended up getting traded to the Brewers and he went and got a bunch of Brewers stuff, so he’s repping the Brewers pretty good this year.”

Mayfield has been one of Yelich’s biggest supporters during his MVP candidacy. He’s even sported Yelich’s jersey before Browns games.

Perhaps Yelich will return the favor for Baker Mayfield’s Rookie of the Year push in the NFL.

Full house

Mayfield wasn’t the only prominent athlete to show up at Yelich’s coronation.

Teammates Ryan Braun, who was the Brewers most recent MVP winner in the 2011, and Mike Moustakas were there as well.

The group collectively showed its support for Yelich, and for the Los Angeles Fire Department and other companies that are currently battling the fires in California.

Yelich’s hometown of Thousand Oaks is among the many communities that have been impacted.

Christian Yelich showed his support for the Los Angeles Fire Department. (MLB Network)
Christian Yelich showed his support for the Los Angeles Fire Department. (MLB Network)

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