CINCINNATI – A year ago, when Christian Yelich wanted to be using his custom-made Bob Uecker tribute bat for the first time for Players’ Weekend, he was instead sitting in a hospital recovering from serious back surgery.

Fast forward a year to Aug. 15 at Great American Ball Park, and Yelich finally got the chance to use it in a game – this time with even more meaning.

Yelich honored his late friend, the legendary Milwaukee Brewers broadcaster who passed in January, by taking the bat to the plate for his first at-bat against the Cincinnati Reds . Players are allowed to use custom bats and cleats for Players’ Weekend, which spans the Brewers’ three-game series with the Reds.

Almost unbelievably, Yelich went deep.

Yelich took a 1-2 sinker from Reds starting pitcher Nick Martinez a

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