Full Breakdown
Brewers and Sharks Appoint First Captains in Franchise History
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
In the 2024-25 season, the Milwaukee Brewers named outfielder Christian Yelich as their first captain in 58 years, and the San Jose Sharks appointed forward Macklin Celebrini as their first captain since Logan Couture, making him the youngest in Sharks history.
Background & Context
Captains are common in hockey but rare in baseball, where the role is honorary. The Brewers had never assigned a “C” before, while the Sharks went a season without a captain after Couture’s injury.
Both teams presented the appointments as symbols of stability heading into the final stretch of their regular seasons. The Brewers were riding a franchise-record 101 wins, and the Sharks had posted a 34-point improvement, the league’s 10th-best single-season jump in three decades.
Data & Statistics
| Franchise | Player | Tenure | Career Highlights | 2024-25 Season Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Brewers | Christian Yelich | 9 seasons, 1,089 games | 3× All-Star, 2× Silver Slugger, 2018 NL MVP | .236/.316/.381, 12 HR, 58 RBI in 116 games |
| San Jose Sharks | Macklin Celebrini | 2 seasons, 152 games | No. 1 overall 2024 draft, 45 G, 115 P in 2025-26 | 45 G, 70 A, 115 P in 2025-26 |
Both are under long-term contracts: Yelich has two guaranteed years on a $215 million extension; Celebrini signed a five-year, $94 million deal through 2031-32.
Official Statements & Responses
Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Yelich sought former star Robin Yount’s blessing, which Yount gave. Sharks GM Mike Grier praised Celebrini’s work ethic and noted the rarity of a 20-year-old captain. Coach Ryan Warsofsky and teammate Tyler Toffoli described his leadership as vocal and serious when needed.
Why It Matters
Assigning a captain formalizes a player’s leadership role and can shape team culture during playoff pushes. For the Brewers, the captaincy arrives with two regular-season games left and a first-round bye before a best-of-five NL Division Series, giving a clear figurehead as the club seeks its first World Series title. For the Sharks, Celebrini’s appointment aims to turn his individual success into collective postseason qualification after a seven-year playoff drought, though the team missed the playoffs by four points.
What’s Next
The Brewers will enter the postseason with a bye and then host a Division Series, where Yelich’s captaincy will be on display. The Sharks begin the 2026-27 NHL season in early October, with Celebrini expected to lead a roster bolstered by recent draft picks and veteran acquisitions as the franchise targets a return to the playoffs.