Forever - Christian Yelich

Work Ethic.

Christian~

"How's it going?" Ryan asks me as he comes into the cages to hit as well. "I don't know, man. It's like I just lost it overnight. I mean I know I'll get over it, but I'd rather this not happen. It's just annoying seeing all of the baseball media outlets report on this," I tell him as he gets set for the machine. 

"You can't let them get into your head. You know that," he says and swings through a pitch.

"I know. It's just frustrating because I know I can hit the ball," I say looking down at my bat. "What do you think it is?" he asks turning to me as the machine had run out of pitches. "I don't know, I feel like I'm seeing the ball well. Maybe it's me, but I don't feel like I adjusted anything. I have a few sessions scheduled with Andy for the next few days so we'll what happens."

"You'll get it back. There's no doubt in my mind," he tells me and reloads the machine, "Thanks, Brauny." 

I stayed in the cages for about an hour after Ryan left to get ready for our game later. I kept handling the pitches because I needed to get my groove back. I know I can hit the ball. It's just why the hell am I striking out so much and letting balls blow past me when I know I can hit it. 

"Ryan told me I'd find you here," someone says coming from the corner of the room where the door is. I turn around and see Brooklyn standing there watching me. 

"I'm gonna tell you this as your trainer, you should not be beating yourself up before the game. That's going to make it worse, and then you'll be pissed about it," she says coming over to the netting. 

I know she's right, but I just need to do it. "I know. I just don't know why I'm not hitting the ball as well right now. It's frustrating," I express to her. She lifts up the netting and but doesn't say anything. She moves the protective screen in front of her and grabs a few balls told in her arms. "What are you doing?" I ask

"You need to start off with some soft tosses instead of using the machine right away. I know you want to find it again but starting off with the machine is not the right way for your body. Let me do this. I'm not busy right now," she tells me and I give in. 

"Okay."

Brooklyn~

"Thanks for before the game," Christian says as he comes into my office, after a hard loss. 6-5, and went into extra innings. Christian did get a hit, so he was happy about it, which then made me happy about it. 

I nod and smile, "Let's get back to the hotel. Hot tub when we get back?" I ask. 

"Yeah, let's do it," he says and grabs my hand. We walked out of Marlins Park and headed to the buses. Ryan caught up to us, "Yeli, you're getting it back," he says and chuckles as we board the bus. 

"Whatever, Ryan."

I look out of the window and see Christian's reflection looking out of it with me, "I wish we had more time here. I wanted to show you around my favorite parts of Miami," he says as he brings my attention back to him. 

"We'll have to come back in the offseason then," I say and he smiles and nods. 

"How's your back been? I remember you telling me it was bothering you a couple of weeks ago," I ask him as we sit in the hot tub alone enjoying this quality time before our early game tomorrow and then booking it back to Milwaukee as we have a game the next day. 

"Well, it feels pretty good with this jet on it," he jokes. 

"You know that's not what I mean."

"I know. But seriously, I think maybe that's the problem with my hitting. It's touch and go right now, but today it didn't really bother me," he tells me and pulls my legs onto his. 

"Touch and go?" I ask with a disapproving look. 

"Don't give me that look. I know what that looks say. It says that you think I should get my back healed until I play another game," he says and I laugh and nod my head. 

"Telling you this as your trainer and partially your girlfriend," I say and he laughs and wraps his arms around my waist pulling me further onto him.

I run my fingers through his hair and look into his big brown eyes. My favorite pair of eyes. "What are you looking at?" he asks. 

I smile, "Just admiring you. I feel we never get time alone like this anymore. It's like we are always on the go and just like never get time to ourselves." 

"I know. Hopefully, the offseason will be less chaotic and we can do whatever," he tells me and kisses the side of my face. "Okay," I say quietly and lean into him. 

"Oh, the lovebirds are already down here, Moose," Ryan says. Christian and I turn toward the door that leads inside as the hot tub overlooks downtown Miami and the water. 

Christian and I both scoff at his comment, "Well, there goes our time together alone," I whisper to Christian and he laughs and kisses my cheek. 

"We can head back up if you want."

"Christian, we pretty much got caught fucking in the office in Atlanta. If we leave early, someone, Ryan, is never going to let that down either. I think I'd rather him just tease us about that," I say and he laughs and nods. 

"Yeah, but it was worth it." 

"I'm not gonna deny that. At all." 

"You know we are right here?" Ryan asks and I look at him. 

"Yep. Deal with it," I say jokingly. 

"Brooklyn, since you've been here for almost a year. I have a question for you," Ryan says and I furrow my brow. "Um, okay?" I say not knowing what to say to that. I mean it's Ryan, what could he possibly ask me. 

"Actually two questions. One, what is your favorite game you have watched us play in the last year?" he asks me and I immediately answer, "Easy. World Series win. There's absolutely no doubt. You guys know this, but I've been a Brewer fan my entire life, so one, getting to see it in person, and two, getting to see it from the dugout, was incredible, and left me speechless."

"That's fair, okay second question, who's your favorite player to watch, that isn't Christian?" 

"You just want me to say you," I shoot back at him. "I mean I would appreciate it. But, I would understand if you didn't." I sit there and think about it, maybe it is Ryan. 

"Actually Ryan, it is you," I tell all of them. "Why is it me?"

"Well, one, you said I couldn't pick Christian. Probably because you're the one who I grew up on. Like I grew up going to Brewer games and rooting for you. So to work for my favorite team in MLB, and also get the chance to work with you. I never would've thought that would happen. Now, we're just insanely close so it's like crazy. You went from being my favorite childhood athlete to a colleague in a matter of years. On the field though, when the team is having a good day, it's like you all feed off of each other's energy. I wish you guys could see it from my view because it's amazing to see."

"Appreciate it," Ryan says and I smile and nod. 

"Do you want to head up?" Christian asks me. "Yeah, let's go." 

"We'll see you guys tomorrow morning," Christian says and hands me a towel. "Have a nice night," Moose tells us and we head back up to our room. 

"So am I your favorite athlete to watch?" he asks me as we stand in the elevator waiting to get up to our level. 

"Yeah," I say as the elevator doors open. "Do you know my favorite part of watching you?" I ask arriving at our door. 

"No," he says throwing his towel in the bathroom. "Your work ethic. How hard you work and watching it pay off is extraordinary. Like, I know you've been having a hard time trying to get in the groove again, but like even today when we were in the cages. I could tell you are determined to fix it and it more than inspires me to be a better trainer but also a better girlfriend."

I tell him all of this as he comes over and kisses me. His lips linger on mine, "I love you."

"I love you, too."