MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy was celebrating his team’s World Series appearance when he shared that recently crowned team captain Christian Yelich had predicted this moment several months before.
“Yeli said it early in the season,” Murphy said after the Brewers completed their NL Championship Series sweep of the Dodgers. “He said, ‘You’d better start believing because we’re going to the World Series,’ and we’re right here.”
Click to Gallery
Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich holds the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after Game 4 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich celebrates with teammates after Game 4 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich celebrates after Game 4 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich celebrates winning the NLCS Championship after Game 4 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
There’s only one problem with this narrative. Yelich can’t recall making that proclamation.
“I don’t remember,” Yelich said Thursday, the day before the Brewers host the Tampa Bay Rays in their first World Series game since 1982. “He told me I said that. I don’t know. But I think throughout the year, you just believed that. I think you have to believe that and you have to expect to be here. You don’t want to approach it like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe we’re here.’ You should expect to be here, especially with the kind of team we’ve had.”
Whether Yelich actually said it or not, the fact his perceived comment would carry such weight comes as no surprise.
Yelich, 34, and pitcher Brandon Woodruff are the only players who have been on Milwaukee’s roster throughout the Brewers’ run of eight playoff appearances in nine seasons. The Brewers acquired him from Miami in 2018, and he was named NL MVP later that year. Yelich's value in the clubhouse has remained as strong as ever, even as he’s battled injuries over the last several years and a drop in production this season.
Teammates say the Brewers’ decision to name Yelich the first team captain in franchise history on the final weekend of the regular season merely formalized what they already knew.
“He’s been a captain before he got the ‘C,'" outfielder Sal Frelick said. “We all know that.”
He’s one of three active captains in MLB, joining the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge and the Kansas City Royals’ Salvador Perez.
Yelich’s appreciation for Brewers history was evident from the way he reacted to this honor. When the idea was proposed to Yelich, he initially wanted to make sure it was OK with Hall of Fame shortstop Robin Yount, who never had the captain title but is regarded as the best Brewers player ever.
Yount called Yelich’s concern “a very humbling” gesture that “certainly wasn’t necessary.”
“He certainly deserved that, earned that on his own,” Yount said. “The fact that the Brewers chose to actually give a captain’s ‘C’ on his jersey, and all of that. I think it’s great. I think the timing couldn’t have been better for something like this.”
Now Yelich is playing a major role in helping the Brewers get back to the World Series for the first time since Yount led them there during his MVP season of 1982. This hasn’t been a banner season for Yelich, whose .315 on-base percentage and .692 OPS were career lows.
But he has been coming through lately.
Yelich ended a string of 18 straight postseason games without an RBI when he singled home a run in Game 3 of the NL Division Series at San Diego. He has gone 7 for 24 at the plate this postseason, a .292 average that eclipses his regular-season average of .235.
Murphy says he noticed how much the “C” meant to Yelich.
“It was real for him,” Murphy said. “You can tell when you give someone something or you let somebody know something. It was real for Yelich, in a way that I was even shocked at. Since then, I don’t know the numbers, but I just know this guy is on point. He’s focused.
“He feels that responsibility. And I think it’s an easier responsibility for him to carry, because it’s so natural, than to try to carry the pressure of, ‘Hey, I’ve got to get four hits or I’ve got to do this.’ He’s way more important to this process than anyone knows.”
Yelich has been setting an example to his younger teammates for years.
“He took me under his wing my first big-league camp before I was even in the big leagues,” Frelick said. “Walking me through baserunning stuff. I’m like, ‘This guy has won an MVP. Why is he telling me how tight I have to cut the third-base bag when I’m running home from second?’ It’s because he just knows how to play the game. He cares. He knows that’s how to win baseball games. And he knows that if people hear it coming from him, they’ll then tell other guys how important it is.”
That kind of approach had Yelich and his younger teammates believing they could reach a World Series. Now they’re finally here.
“This is the expectation and the standard we wanted to set going into spring training,” Yelich said. “It isn’t like we woke up and found ourselves here. This was the goal and where we wanted to be.”
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich holds the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after Game 4 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich celebrates with teammates after Game 4 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich celebrates after Game 4 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich celebrates winning the NLCS Championship after Game 4 of baseball's National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, one of the state’s most powerful Democrats, was charged Thursday with leading what authorities alleged was a wide-ranging criminal enterprise that acquired and distributed large quantities of marijuana and laundered the proceeds.
Lucas, who has been in elected office for decades, used her political power to insulate the operation from scrutiny, according to an indictment charging her and six other defendants, including several of her relatives. She “put her own financial interests before the people she was elected to serve,” said U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, who spoke at a news conference with FBI Director Kash Patel.
Lucas surrendered, the Justice Department said. She made a brief appearance in federal court in Norfolk on Thursday afternoon, where she was released on her own recognizance, according to court records. She left the court without addressing journalists who shouted questions her way and went straight into a waiting vehicle.
The charges, including drug trafficking and money laundering, came after the FBI searched Lucas' hometown office and a cannabis shop in which she has a stake in May. At the time of the search, Lucas — who has been a vocal critic of Republican President Donald Trump’s administration — characterized it as an attempt to intimidate her.
A statement attributed to Lucas posted on her social media account did not directly address the substance of the charges but said Thursday's actions amounted to the federal government wielding its “full weight” against a great-grandmother.
“I will not be intimidated. I will not be bullied. And I will not back down,” Lucas said in the statement. Her attorney at the hearing declined comment outside.
The brash 82-year-old lawmaker has spent decades ascending the ranks of Virginia politics and has served since 1992 in the state Senate, where she's the president pro tempore, overseeing the chamber in the lieutenant governor’s absence. More significantly, she leads the powerful Senate finance committee, through which all legislation with any budget impact must flow. She’s used the position to kill legislation she opposes.
The indictment comes as Trump’s Justice Department has faced intense scrutiny over investigations and prosecutions against foes of the president that critics have called politically motivated.
Blanche rejected any suggestion politics played a role in Lucas’ case, noting the investigation began well before the second Trump administration started in January 2025.
“We don’t do political paybacks,” Blanche told reporters.
A person familiar with the May search told The Associated Press at the time that the probe was opened during Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a continuing criminal investigation.
Patel said in a statement that “Lucas and a close-knit group of family members and associates orchestrated a multi-year scheme to enrich their own criminal marijuana enterprise, ‘the Lucas Enterprise’ — using Lucas’ position as Chairwoman of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee to insulate the enterprise from criminal scrutiny and influencing legislation to financially benefit themselves.”
The indictment describes Lucas as the “leader of the enterprise” who “approved and directed criminal activities,” including arranging for the acquisition and distribution of marijuana and supervising the laundering of the proceeds.
The indictment alleges Lucas worked this year with another of the defendants to use her political position to obtain a recreational marijuana license for him, with the understanding that the proceeds from sales under the license would be shared with her to support the “enterprise.”
Since 2021, marijuana has been legal to possess in Virginia, and many shops across the state have sold cannabis-derived products. But full recreational sales are not yet underway; legislation enacted earlier this year will allow them beginning in July 2027.
Law enforcement made multiple controlled purchases of marijuana from Lucas' shop, which purported to sell hemp products, in 2024 and 2025, the indictment said.
In addition to drug and money laundering charges, Lucas faces charges of racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and maintaining a drug-involved premises. An arraignment is scheduled for next month.
Among the other defendants who face a mix of those and other charges are two daughters, Lisa Lucas Burke and Theresa Lucas-Lamb, and a grandson, Ryan Eichelberger. All three also made brief court appearances and were released on their recognizance, according to court records.
Attorneys for Lucas-Lamb and Eichelberger declined comment; Andrew Sacks, who was listed in court records as an attorney for Burke, didn't respond to requests for comment. Attorneys for two other defendants who are not family members declined comment; a third who was also released Thursday had no attorney listed in court records.
A forceful advocate of legalizing marijuana, Lucas partnered in opening the shop, The Cannabis Outlet, in 2021. She has publicly spoken about her ownership stake as recently as June, though her most recent financial disclosure forms do not list the business by name.
At the time of the search — when marijuana was recovered at The Cannabis Outlet, according to the indictment — many Democrats spoke up to defend Lucas.
On Thursday, Scott Surovell, the Democratic leader of the state Senate, said in a statement that the indictment contained “serious allegations” but emphasized that “Senator Lucas has the right to defend herself, and she has my full support as she does so.” Attorney General Jay Jones, a Democrat who is close with Lucas, said the allegations against her must be tested in a “full and fair” legal process.
House Speaker Don Scott, Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi, and Gov. Abigail Spanberger, all Democrats, echoed those sentiments, with Spanberger adding that the timing of the indictment so close to the midterm election would “further erode” Americans' trust in the Justice Department. Lucas herself is not on the ballot this year.
Ryan McDougle, the Senate Republican leader, said he would not comment while the court proceedings play out.
Lucas, who represents a district that includes her hometown of coastal Portsmouth, operates with a sometimes-profane, unapologetic style that’s drawn comparisons to Trump.
She amassed a six-figure following on X and national attention, using the social media platform to advocate forcefully for her priorities and to bash her critics, including former GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin. She’s also occasionally blasted members of her own party, including Spanberger, with whom she’s had disagreements.
Earlier this year, Lucas helped lead Democrats’ ultimately unsuccessful plan to gerrymander the blue-leaning state’s congressional districts into a map intended to elect 10 Democrats and only one Republican. Along the way, she posted quips about four GOP members the intended map sought to oust, joking that they soon would be working at McDonald’s. She and other Democrats defended the maps as a reasonable response to Trump-backed efforts to boost the GOP’s midterm advantage in other states.
Lucas has notched several historic firsts in her career. According to a biography from the state library, in 1971 she became the Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s first female shipfitter, a physically demanding job that involves working on metal assemblies for vessels.
She launched her political career in 1984, when, the biography said, she became the first Black woman elected to the Portsmouth city council.
After Democrats flipped control of the Senate in 2019, her peers elected her to serve as president pro tempore. And in 2024, she was tapped to lead the chamber’s budget committee.
Rankin reported from Richmond. Associated Press journalists Eric Tucker in Washington and Steve Helber in Norfolk contributed to this report.
Virginia State Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, center, is led to a waiting vehicle as she leaves federal court. Thursday Oct. 22, 2026, in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
FBI Director Kash Patel, right, US Attorney General Todd Blanche, center, and Assistant US attorney Theophani Stamos, during a press conference announcing the indictment of Virginia State Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, Thursday Oct. 22, 2026, in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
FBI Director Kash Patel,right, US Attorney General Todd Blanche,left, and Assistant US attorney Theophani Stamos, during a press conference announcing the indictment of Virginia State Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, Thursday Oct. 22, 2026, in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Virginia State Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, waves as she leaves federal court, Thursday Oct. 22, 2026, in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, is led to a waiting vehicle as she leaves federal court, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
FBI Director Kash Patel, right, and US Attorney General Todd Blanche, left, answer questions during a press conference announcing the indictment of Virginia State Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, Thursday Oct. 22, 2026, in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
US Attorney General Todd Blanche answers questions during a press conference announcing the indictment of Virginia State Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, Thursday Oct. 22, 2026, in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
FBI Director Kash Patel, right, US Attorney General Todd Blanche, center, and Assistant US Attorney Theophani Stamos, during a press conference announcing the indictment of Virginia State Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, Thursday Oct. 22, 2026, in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
FILE - Virginia Senate President pro tempore Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, listens to debate on the Senate floor, Feb. 17, 2026, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Ryan M. Kelly, File)
FILE - Virginia Senate President pro tempore Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, listens to debate on the Senate floor, Feb. 17, 2026, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Ryan M. Kelly, File)
