Ryan Joseph Braun (born November 17, 1983, in Mission Hills, California) is an American right-handed Major League Baseball left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. A perennial standout, he was ranked No. 7 by the Sporting News in its 2012 list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball and is the reigning National League MVP.
Braun was a two-time All American baseball player at the University of Miami, where he was named "National Freshman of the Year" by Baseball America in 2003. The Brewers drafted him in the first round (fifth overall) in the 2005 major league draft. He was the team's Minor League Player of the Year in 2006.
Braun has led the National League (NL) twice in slugging percentage (in 2007, while setting the major league rookie record, and 2011), twice in extra-base hits (2008 and 2011), and once in hits (2009). On defense, he led all major league outfielders in fielding percentage in 2008, led NL left fielders in fielding percentage twice (2009 and 2011), and led NL left fielders in range factor in 2009. His 128 home runs through 2010 were the 8th-most by any major leaguer ever through their first four seasons. Through 2011, he was third among all active ballplayers in career slugging percentage, and first among active left fielders in career fielding percentage.
Braun won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2007. He was voted a starting All-Star and won the NL Outfielder Silver Slugger Award in each of the past four seasons (2008–11).
Braun was a four-year letterman on the Granada Hills High School baseball team, and three-year team captain and Most Valuable Player (MVP). He played shortstop, and pitched through his junior year. As a sophomore in 2000, he recorded the highest batting average of his prep career (.456), while posting a .654 on-base percentage (OBP). During his junior year, he hit .421, with a .668 OBP. Braun capped off his high school career by batting .451 as a senior, with an OBP of .675, and breaking the school record for career home runs with 25.[1]
He was a two-time all-area selection by the Los Angeles Times, and a three-time choice by the Los Angeles Daily News. As a senior, Braun was rated the sixth-best shortstop prospect in the country by Team One Baseball, and among the top 100 overall prospects by Baseball America.[2] He graduated in 2002, but went undrafted as he told teams that he intended to attend college.[3][4]
Academically, he excelled as well, receiving only one B (in AP Chemistry).[5][6]
Offered scholarships by Stanford University and UC-Berkeley, he instead attended the University of Miami (on an academic scholarship, due to his high school grades).[5] He chose Miami for its academics, its athletics, and its social scene, noting: "I think the girls were the deal closer on the recruiting trip."[4][7]
There, Braun was named "National Freshman of the Year," as well as a first-team "Freshman All-American," by Baseball America in 2003, as well as first team All American by the Jewish Sports Review.[8] He was also named first-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball.[3] He clinched the awards by batting .364 with 76 runs batted in (RBIs) and 17 home runs. As a sophomore shortstop/designated hitter, Braun hit .335, slugged .606, and had 21 stolen bases.
During his junior year, his final and most successful at Miami, Braun batted .396 with 18 home runs, a .726 slugging percentage, 76 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases. He was ninth in slugging and 10th in RBIs in NCAA Division I, and was named to Baseball America's 2005 College All-American Team as the DH. He moved from shortstop to third base during the year. His performance earned Braun a spot as one of the finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, the most prestigious individual award in college baseball, and the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Player of the Year award.[3][9]
The Milwaukee Brewers drafted Braun in the first round (fifth overall) in the 2005 major league draft as a third baseman, and he signed for $2.45 million.[10]
Assigned to the Helena Brewers in the Advanced Rookie Pioneer League in 2005, Braun batted .341/.383/.585 in 10 games. He was then promoted to the West Virginia Power in the Class A South Atlantic League, where he hit .355/.396/.645, and was rated the fifth-best prospect in the league.[11] His most memorable moment there was when he hit a walk-off grand slam to lead the Power into the playoffs.[12] Following the 2005 season he was rated by Baseball America as the Brewers' Best Minor League Hitter for Average, the fifth-best prospect in the South Atlantic League, and the third-best prospect in the Brewers organization.
Braun began 2006 playing for the A-Advanced Brevard County Manatees. He earned a spot in the Florida State League All-Star game, and played in the All-Star Futures Game. He was rated the top third base prospect in the FSL, and Baseball America rated him the best batting prospect in the league. On June 21, Braun was promoted to the Class AA Huntsville Stars (Alabama) of the Southern League. In July he was voted the Brewers' Organizational Player of the Month, and at the end of the season he was voted the sixth-best prospect in the Southern League.[13] Collectively between Class A and Class AA, Braun finished with a .289 average, 22 home runs, 77 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases. He received the 2006 Robin Yount Performance Award as the Milwaukee Brewers Minor League Player of the Year.[14]
Later in 2006, in the Arizona Fall League he hit .326/.396/.641 in 92 at bats for the Scottsdale Scorpions.[15] He led the AFL with 16 extra-base hits, tied for tops with 9 doubles, ranked second in slugging percentage and HR/AB ratio (1/15), tied for second in home runs (6), and tied for third in RBIs (25). He was rated one of the top three prospects in the league, and was voted to the AFL All-Prospects Team.[15][16]
Baseball America rated Braun the Brewers' # 2 prospect for 2007.[13] He began the year with the Nashville Sounds of the AAA Pacific Coast League. Before being called up to the majors in late May, in 113 at bats he led the PCL with a .726 slugging percentage while batting .354 (6th), with 10 home runs (T-2nd) and a .426 on base percentage (5th).[17]
The Brewers brought Braun to spring training in 2007.[15] Their regular third baseman Corey Koskie was suffering from post-concussion syndrome, and missed the entire year.[18] In 11 spring training games, Braun tied for 10th in the majors in home runs (5), and second in RBIs (15).[19][20]
In 2007, Braun had what some sportswriters called one of the most dominant rookie seasons in baseball history.[21] Called up on May 24 by the Brewers, he hit his first major league home run two nights later.[22][23][24][25] Braun was voted the National League (NL) Rookie of the Month for June, ranking first in RBIs (21) and tied for first in home runs (6) among NL rookies that month. He also recorded a .716 slugging percentage and a .435 OBP.[26] In July, Braun became the fastest in Brewer history to hit 10 major league home runs, doing so in his 38th game.[27] He hit his 15th home run in the 50th game of his career, and his 20th in his 64th game, making him the fastest to those milestones since Albert Pujols in 2001. He was also the fastest to 20 homers in Brewers history.[28][29] At month's end, he received his second consecutive NL Rookie of the Month Award, as well as his first NL Player of the Month Award (making him the first player to won both awards in the same month). He hit a league-leading 11 home runs, with 25 RBIs, while batting .345.[30]
In mid-August, Yost moved Braun from third in the batting order to cleanup, switching him with Prince Fielder. The move was expected to allow Braun to steal more, as batting before Fielder was not conducive to him risking being thrown out on steal attempts. Additionally, successfully stealing a base would hypothetically allow opponents to intentionally walk Fielder and avoid pitching to him.[31] At the end of the month, however, Yost reverted to his previous batting order.[32] On August 26, Braun hit his 25th home run in his 82nd game, quicker than any major leaguer since Mark McGwire in 1987.[33][34]
On September 9, the Brewers became the third team in major league history to start a game with three straight home runs, as Rickie Weeks, J. J. Hardy, and Braun homered in consecutive at bats. Braun said, "That was pretty cool. I was never part of something like that before."[35] Braun's home run in that game also broke the Brewers rookie record for home runs (28).[36] Braun hit his 30th homer in his 94th game, a pace no player had set to start a career since McGwire hit 30 in 84 games during 1986 and 1987.[37]
Braun finished with an NL-leading .634 slugging percentage, a mark that set new all-time rookie and Brewers records.[38][39] He was fifth in the league in at bats per home run (13.3) and OPS (1.004), tied for fifth in home runs (34), and eighth in batting average (.324) among hitters with at least 490 plate appearances.[40] He led the Brewers in batting average and slugging percentage, and was second behind Fielder in home runs, runs (91), and RBIs (97), tied for second in triples (6), and third in OBP (.370) and steals (15), despite not having played in the first 48 games of the season.[41] Braun obliterated the club rookie records of 28 home runs and 81 RBIs, set by Fielder in 2006.[42]
"I was always small. I was a leadoff hitter growing up, until I was 13 or 14 years old and had a little growth spurt and started hitting home runs."
Braun had considerable success against left-handed pitchers. He had the best batting average (.450), OBP (.516), and slugging percentage (.964) of any major league hitter with at least 125 plate appearances against lefties, and was tied for second in the majors in home runs (15).[44][45] Braun credits his father with his success against lefties. "My dad is left-handed, so growing up, the majority of time, I took batting practice off of him."[46]
Braun collected several awards at season's end. He won the 2007 NL Rookie of the Year Award in a vote by 32 members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. He beat out Troy Tulowitzki by 2 points in the closest NL vote since the system was revised in 1980.[47] Of all prior NL Rookies of the Year, only Pujols and Willie McCovey hit for higher batting averages in their rookie year.[48] Braun was voted the 2007 NL Sporting News Rookie of the Year by 488 major league players and 30 managers.[49][50] Braun also received the 2007 Players Choice NL Most Outstanding Rookie in a vote by his fellow major league players.[51] "When your peers recognize you with an award, that's great," he said. "Those are the guys out there on the field with you, competing against you. Their opinion counts the most, for a player."[52] In voting for the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, Braun received two 10th-place votes and finished 24th overall.[53]
- Contract
In March 2008, the Brewers renewed Braun's contract for $455,000, a $75,000 increase.[54]
Braun then signed an 8-year, $45–$51 million contract extension (the total depending on his "Super 2" service-time ranking after the 2009 season) on May 15, 2008.[55] The contract is through the year 2015. The deal included Braun's $455,000 salary for 2008, and a $2.3 million bonus in 2008. It could increase to $51 million through incentives. Braun also has a no-trade clause for the first four years, and then a limited no-trade clause allowing him to block deals to 12 teams from 2012 to 2013, and 6 teams from 2014 to 2015. The contract will keep Braun locked up through his age-31 season.[56]
It was the largest contract in Brewers' history, surpassing Jeff Suppan's. It was also the largest contract in baseball history given to a player with less than three years' experience.[57] Braun's agent, Nez Balelo, crunched enough numbers to show him what he potentially could have made over the life of this contract if he had chosen not to sign it. "But the question I ultimately asked myself was, `What can't I buy with that amount of money?"' Braun said.[58]
- Regular season and postseason
Braun drove in 134 runs in his first 162 games in the majors, more RBIs than any active player.[59][60] He reached the 150-RBI milestone faster than any major leaguer since Boston's Walt Dropo needed only 155 games, in 1949–51. On June 17, 2008, he drove in his 152nd career RBI, in his 182nd game.[61]
Braun was named the NL's Player of the Month, after batting .366 in July (6th in the NL) with 9 home runs (3rd), and 23 RBIs (7th). He also led the league with 76 total bases and 18 extra base hits, and was among NL leaders with 37 hits (2nd), 3 triples (2nd), and a 1.163 OPS (3rd). He had back-to-back 4-hit games, just the 5th player in team history to accomplish that feat.[62] "It's a huge honor," Braun said. "The way I look at it, you're the MVP of the National League for that month. It's definitely a big accomplishment.[63]
As of August 8, Braun's major league career start was one of the best ever. In 227 games to start a career, he was first with 558 total bases and 133 extra base hits, second with 64 home runs, and tied for second with 181 RBIs.[64]
On August 9, Braun strained the intercostal muscles around his oblique ribcage. That led to him missing a number of games, and shortening his swing for a few weeks.[65][66] After returning, on September 25 he hit his first grand slam in "grand" fashion. With the bases loaded, he delivered a 2-out, 2–2 pitch from the Pirates' Jesse Chavez into the left field bleachers of Miller Park in the bottom of the 10th inning, winning the game 5–1, and keeping the Brewers' 2008 post-season hopes alive. Three days later, Braun helped put the Brewers into the post-season for the first time since 1982, by hitting a go-ahead 2-run homer in the bottom of the 8th against the Chicago Cubs. The homer was the difference in the game, which gave the Brewers a one-game lead over the New York Mets for the NL wild card.
Braun was a starting outfielder for the NL in the 2008 All Star Game. He finished first in fan voting among NL outfielders, and second among all NL players, with 3,835,840 votes, behind only Chase Utley of the Phillies (3,889,602).[67] He also finished first in player voting.[68] Braun was the first Brewers outfielder voted to start an All Star game.[69] He was one of seven first-time starters in the game, and–along with Kosuke Fukudome and Josh Hamilton–one of only three who had not reached the major leagues until 2007 or 2008.[67]
Braun came in third in the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium. "It's something you dream about," Braun said. "That's as big a stage as you can get on.... it's going to be a lot of fun."[70] He had his friend and agent, Nez Balelo, a former minor league infielder, pitch to him.[71][72] Braun's longest homer was estimated at 448 feet.[73] He hit seven home runs in each of the first and second rounds, finishing with 14 (three behind finalist Justin Morneau, who hit five in the final round to win the Derby).[74]
On June 3, Braun became the third-fastest major leaguer to reach 50 career home runs. He did so in 171 career games; the only players to reach that plateau sooner were Rudy York and Mark McGwire.[75][76] On July 8, Braun hit his 56th home run in his 200th game, the third-highest total ever in a major leaguer's initial 200 games, behind McGwire (59) and York (59).[77]
In early August, Braun hit his 30th home run, becoming just the second player in MLB history to hit 30 or more homers in each of his first two seasons, joining Pujols.[66][78] Braun hit 71 home runs in his first two seasons, tying him with Pujols for fourth all-time. Joe DiMaggio tops the list with 75 home runs, followed by Ralph Kiner (74) and Eddie Mathews (72).[64][79][80]
In 2008, in 151 games Braun hit 37 home runs (tied for 4th in the NL, behind Ryan Howard, Adam Dunn, and Carlos Delgado), with 106 RBIs (9th), and batted .285 with a .553 slugging percentage (5th).[81] He also led the league with 83 extra base hits, and had 338 total bases (2nd in the NL), 7 triples (6th), 16.5 at-bats-per-home-run (10th), and 611 at bats (10th).[82] 12.5% of his plate appearances were extra base hits (3rd in the NL; behind Ryan Ludwick and Pujols), he had 29 infield hits (7th), and he stole third base 6 times (9th).[83][84]
Against starting pitchers, Braun hit .244 the first time he faced them in a game, .331 the second time, and .328 with a .672 slugging percentage the third time.[85] Braun led the Brewers in batting average, slugging percentage, triples, home runs, RBIs, extra base hits, total bases, at-bats-per-home run, OPS (.888), runs (92), and hits (174).[86]
Braun hit .313 in October against the Phillies in his first post-season series, which the Brewers lost 3–1.
- Season awards
Braun was voted to the 2008 NL Sporting News All Star Team, by a panel of 41 major league general managers and assistant general managers.[87] He also won the 2008 NL Outfielder Silver Slugger Award, in a vote by major league coaches and managers who select the top offensive performer at each position in both leagues. The award, sponsored by Louisville Slugger, is based on a combination of statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage, as well as the coaches' and managers' general impressions of a player's overall offensive value.[88] In voting for the 2008 NL MVP award, Braun was third (with 139 points), behind Pujols and Ryan Howard.[89]
In 2009, Braun was named to Sporting News' list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball, ranking No. 32. A panel of 100 baseball people, many of them members of the Hall of Fame and winners of major baseball awards, were polled to arrive at the list.[90]
- World Baseball Classic
Braun was invited to play for Team USA in 2009 in the second World Baseball Classic. "I'm really excited to get to represent my country," he said. "It's an honor just to get invited for the event."[91] He batted .381 as the team's starting left fielder, helping it reach the semi-finals.[92][93]
- Regular season
"One thing is for certain: You've got to tie Braun up from time to time. If you don't, he's going to feast on you."[94]
Braun was named National League Player of the Week for May 4–10, after leading the NL with 12 RBIs for the week while hitting .458/.567/.958 with 3 home runs. He hit the second grand slam of his career and recorded a career-high six RBIs on May 6, and on May 9 he reached base in all five of his plate appearances.[95]
Braun led all NL outfielders in fan voting for the All Star Game for the second year in a row, with 4.1 million votes, ahead of Raúl Ibáñez and Carlos Beltrán.[96] He was third among all NL vote-getters, trailing Pujols and Chase Utley.[97] He was the first Brewer to be voted in as a starter in consecutive years since Robin Yount (in 1982 and 1983), and the third Brewer position player voted to start twice, along with Yount and Paul Molitor (1980 and 1988).[98][99] Braun started in right field, the first time he had ever played the position, and batted cleanup, going 0–2.[100]
Braun was second all-time, with 79 home runs over his first two calendar years in the major leagues, to Phillies Hall of Famer Chuck Klein (83); ahead of third-place Joe DiMaggio and Mark McGwire (77).[101] If Braun continues to hit home runs at the rate he had hit them through July 1, 2009, he will reach 600 home runs in his 15th major league season.[102] In September, Braun became the second-fastest active player to hit 100 home runs (behind only Ryan Howard), as he hit his 100th homer in his 400th major league game.[103] Later in the month, he became the second player in major league history (joining Pujols) to hit 30 or more home runs in each of his first three seasons.[104] Braun's 103 home runs in his first three Major League seasons are sixth-most in baseball history, behind Pujols (114), Mark Teixeira (107), and three Hall of Famers—Kiner (114), Matthews (112), and Joe DiMaggio (107).[105]
As in 2007, in 2009 Braun had even greater success against left-handed pitchers. Against them he had the second-best OBP (.475), slugging percentage (.723), and OPS (1.198), and third-best batting average (.395), of all NL hitters with at least 125 plate appearances.[106]
He finished the season with an NL-leading 203 hits, becoming the first Brewer to lead his league in hits since Molitor topped the AL in 1991.[107] Braun became the fourth Brewer in team history to collect 200 or more hits in a season, and the first in 18 years. He joined Cecil Cooper, Molitor, and Yount.[108] His .320 batting average at the end of the season was the highest by a Brewer since Jeff Cirillo hit .326 in 1999.[109]
In 2009, in addition to leading the NL in hits, Braun was 2nd in runs (113), 4th in RBIs (114), total bases (350), extra base hits (77), and hit by pitch (13), 7th in batting average (.320) and power-speed number (24.6), 8th in OPS (.937), 9th in slugging percentage (.551) and doubles (39), tied for 10th in triples (6), and tied for 11th in home runs (32).[110] He was also 4th in the league in infield hits (25).[111]
He became only the second Brewer ever to hit 30 home runs and steal 20 bases in the same season.[112] Braun also became the eighth player in major league history with at least 100 runs, 100 RBIs, 200 hits, 30 homers, 20 stolen bases, and a .300 average in the same season.[105]
Season awards Braun was voted to the NL Sporting News All Star Team in 2009, making it for the second year in a row. He received votes from all 14 voting NL team executives (as did Pujols and Utley; Mauer was named on all AL ballots).[113] Braun was awarded the 2009 NL Outfielder Silver Slugger Award, winning it for the second year in a row.[105] He became the first Brewer since Molitor, more than two decades prior, to win a Silver Slugger Award in consecutive years. Cecil Cooper is the only other Brewer to have done it.[105]
Braun was named to Sporting News' 2010 list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball, ranking No. 22.[114]
He was elected a starting NL All Star outfielder for the third year in a row, in 2010.[115] Braun led all major league outfielders in All Star votes for the third straight year, with 2,972,525, despite Milwaukee being the smallest media market in the majors.[115][116] As in 2009, he received more votes than any NL players other than Pujols and Utley.[117] He became the first Brewer to be a three-time All Star starter, passing Yount and Molitor.[115]
Braun was named NL Player of the Week for August 1–8, after leading the majors with a .538 batting average, 14 hits, and 8 runs scored, and notching a career-best 5-hit performance in one game.[118][119]
For the season, Braun was 2nd in the NL in hits (188) and doubles (45), 5th in total bases (310), 6th in runs (101), 7th in RBIs (103) and extra base hits (71), and 9th in batting average (.304).[120]
Braun hit the 8th-most home runs by any major leaguer through his first four seasons (128).[121] He also became the fifth player in major league history to hit at least 125 homers with a .300 average over his first four seasons, joining Joe DiMaggio, Chuck Klein, Pujols, and Ted Williams.[122] His 94 home runs in 2008–10 were the most by any right-handed outfielder.[123]
He was the first player in Brewers history to hit 20 or more home runs in each of his first four seasons, and the third Brewer to have 100 or more RBIs in three consecutive seasons (joining Richie Sexson (2001–03) and Prince Fielder (2007–09)).[124][125] He also became the second player in Brewers history to have consecutive 100-RBI, 100-run seasons (joining Cecil Cooper, who did it in 1982–83).[126]
Braun was awarded the 2010 NL Outfielder Silver Slugger Award, winning it for the third year in a row.[127] He became the second Brewer to win a Silver Slugger Award in three consecutive years, joining Cecil Cooper (1980–82).[127] Robin Yount is the only other Brewer to have won the award three times (1980, 1982, and 1989).[127] Braun was also voted to the 2010 NL Sporting News All Star Team, making the team for the third year in a row.[128]
In 2011, Braun was again named to Sporting News' list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball, ranking No. 16. A panel of 21 MLB executives was polled to arrive at the list.[114][129]
He was named NL Player of the Month for April, after tying for the NL lead in home runs (10) and runs scored (24), while setting a new team record by reaching base in 28 consecutive games to start a season (erasing Yount's record of 23 games, set in 1983). He was also named NL Player of the Week, for the week ended April 25.[130]
He led all National League players in All Star balloting, with an NL-record 5.93 million votes, as he garnered more votes than any other NL outfielder for the fourth year in a row. He was voted an NL All Star starter for a franchise record fourth time.[131][132] Braun had a 23-game hitting streak, the third-longest in team history.[131] On August 31, he hit a ball deep to left-center field and tried for an inside-the-park home run, but fell on his way to home plate and was tagged out. The crowd gave him a standing ovation for his effort.[133]
On September 23, Braun hit a three-run, 450-foot home run that sealed the Brewers' NL-Central-clinching victory. He reflected that it was "eerily similar" to his home run on the last day of the 2008 season, also in the bottom of the eighth inning with the game tied 1–1, which enabled the Brewers to reach the post-season for the first time since 1982.[134] Prince Fielder observed: ""It's not new. That's what he does."[134][135] He was named the NL Player of the Month for the fourth time in his career in September, after tying for second in the league with 8 home runs and 22 RBIs, while batting .330.[136]
In 2011, Braun led the National League in slugging percentage (.597), OPS (.994), and extra base hits (77). He was 2nd in the NL in batting average (.332), runs (109), and total bases (336), 4th in RBIs (111) and doubles (38; tied), 5th in on base percentage (.397) and hits (187), 6th in home runs (33; T), and 7th in stolen bases (33; a career high).[132][137][138] On defense, he led all major league left fielders in fielding percentage, at .996.[139]
Braun became the 7th player to have at least four 30-homer, 100-RBI seasons in his first five years, joining Chuck Klein, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Ralph Kiner, Mark Teixeira, and Albert Pujols.[140] He also became the 11th major leaguer to hit at least 30 home runs in four of his first five seasons.[140] He joined Klein, DiMaggio, Williams, Kiner, Eddie Mathews, Frank Robinson, Mark McGwire, Teixeira, Pujols, and Dan Uggla.[140]
Braun accepts his 2011 National League MVP award from 1989 American League winner
Robin Yount.
In 2011, Braun became the second Brewer (and 56th player in MLB history) to join the 30–30 club, joining Tommy Harper (1970).[140][141] He was also the second player in Brewers' history to have two 20-steals/20-homers seasons, joining Corey Hart.[142] He became the first Brewer to post three 100-run, 100-RBI seasons.[143] In addition, he became one of three Brewers who have had four 100-RBI seasons, joining Cecil Cooper and Prince Fielder.[143]
Through 2011, he was third among active ballplayers in career slugging percentage (.563), behind Pujols and Alex Rodriguez, and first among left fielders in career fielding percentage (.994).[144][145][146] He was also the Brewers' all-time leader in career batting average (.312), slugging percentage, and OPS (.933), and fourth in on base percentage (.371).[39]
In the 2011 playoffs, through October 14 Braun set the major league post-season record by reaching base in the first inning in nine consecutive playoff games.[147] He also tied Yount and Molitor for the Brewers' team record with his 22nd career post-season hit, and tied Charlie Moore for team's longest post-season hitting streak, at 7 games.[147][148] In the post-season he led the Brewers with a .405 batting average, while driving in a team-best 10 RBIs.[132]
Braun accepting his 2011 Silver Slugger Award from Brewers owner
Mark Attanasio
Braun was awarded the 2011 NL Outfielder Silver Slugger Award, winning it for the fourth year in a row.[149] That was a Brewers record, and he became the fourth National League outfielder to win the award four years in a row, joining Barry Bonds (who did it twice, from 1990 to 1994 and 2000 to 2004), Dale Murphy (1982–85), and Sammy Sosa (1998–2002).[149] He was named the team's 2011 MVP in unanimous voting by the Milwaukee chapter of the BBWAA.[132]
On November 22, Braun was named the NL MVP award winner for the 2011 season, receiving 20 of 32 first place votes.[150]
On April 30 2012, at Petco Park, he became the first player to hit 3 home runs in one game at Petco Park, ending the month of April.
On December 10, 2011, ESPN’s Outside the Lines reported that in an October 2011 urine test Braun had tested positive for an elevated level of testosterone caused by a performance-enhancing drug, according to two un-named sources, and faced a 50-game suspension if the initial finding was upheld.[151][152][153] The test result was supposed to be confidential, but had been leaked to ESPN.[154] Braun disputed and appealed the results of the positive test, and what might have been a 50-game suspension at the start of the 2012 season if the results had been upheld.[153] His appeal was heard in January 2012.[155][156]
Braun had been tested on October 1, 2011, during post-season play.[156] In late October 2011, he learned that the test result indicated elevated levels of testosterone, and a prohibited substance—but not a drug or a steroid, according to a person with knowledge of the results who spoke to the New York Times.[157][158] The Daily News quoted a source as saying that the test results were "insanely high, the highest ever for anyone who has ever taken a test, twice the level of the highest test ever taken".[159] If Braun had been taking a medication that might have led to a positive test result, he could have applied for a therapeutic use exemption from MLB and any subsequent positive tests would be disregarded. However, as Sport Illustrated's David Esptein reported, Braun had never applied for an exemption. [160] Braun then took a second test, performed by an independent laboratory. The second test showed normal testosterone levels.[157] According to TMZ.com, "sources directly connected with Major League Baseball" said the initial positive result was not caused by a performance-enhancing drug, but rather by medication that Braun had taken for a "private medical issue."[151] Braun dismissed that rumor in a news conference after he won his appeal, stating that he did not have a medication for any "private medical issue".
On February 23, 2012, an MLB arbitration panel overturned the 50-game suspension, the first time that a MLB player had successfully challenged a drug test result.[161] In a 2-to-1 vote, an arbitration panel, consisting of MLB representative Rob Manfred, players' union lawyer Michael Weiner, and Shyam Das, decided that valid questions had been raised about the manner in which the test sample had been handled (Manfred was in minority opinion). [162] Braun was tested on a Saturday, and reportedly the test collector first took the sealed urine sample home and stored it in his refrigerator for two days before sending it to a laboratory.[156] A report by ESPN legal analyst Lester Munson said the sample was not refrigerated, but stored on a desk in a Tupperware container for two days. This was at odds with the terms of MLB's testing policy, which requires that a sample be sent to a laboratory the same day that it is collected, unless there are documented extenuating circumstances.[163] While being interviewed on the Dan Patrick Show, Sports Illustrated's David Epstein was asked if the sample had been tampered with or the seal broken, to which he responded "No, no it wasn't. And as far I know, that wasn't something that had been challenged." [164] On February 28, Dino Laurenzi Jr., who had collected Braun's sample and sent it for testing, released a statement stating, "At no point did I tamper with any of the samples." Laurenzi also said he had collected more than 600 samples for MLB in the past and submitted samples to other professional sports leagues.[165] Major League Baseball fired Das May 14, 2012.[166]
"He looks like 'The Natural.'"[167]
--Jim Powell, former Brewers' radio voice
Braun has the ability to hit for average and significant power. His fluid swing is compact and short, with tremendous bat speed and a protracted follow-through, and he is a pull hitter with strong wrists.[168][169] Braun waits well on offspeed pitches, and uses the entire field.[170] He drives the ball, no matter where it is in the strike zone.[171] Brewers hitting coach Jim Skaalen observed: "He's got tremendously quick hands and really hits through the ball. He stays on the ball as well as anyone we've got."[42][169]
In addition, his speed garnered him comparisons to New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.[172] Braun has been timed at 4.2 seconds to first base from the right side of the plate.[173] In spring training in 2007, he was second-fastest in the Brewers' 60-yard dash.[174]
A shortstop most of his life and in college, Braun was inconsistent on defense after switching to third base in 2006.[4] However, he was noted for his athleticism, his occasional web gems,[42] and particularly for his powerful throwing arm,[171] which was rated the best infield arm in the Brewers' minor league system by Baseball America in early 2007.[175] Braun was charged with 34 errors in 2006, the majority on throws. "It's a matter of proper footwork," said Ash in early 2007. "Most of his problems come because he relies on his arm, which is very strong."[176]
"I think Braunie's biggest problem is reading the ball off the bat. He's gotten a lot better on the routine plays, has gotten a lot better with his throws. He's a very good athlete. He's working very hard at it. He's going to get better, no doubt about it. He hasn't played a lot of third base. We tend to forget that."[42]
– Brewers coach
Dale Sveum, a former big league third baseman.
While Yost removed Braun from a number of games in September 2007 for defense, he praised Braun for his improvements.[177] "The great thing about it is it doesn't involve throwing at all now," said Yost, referring to Braun's biggest issue in the spring. "It involves first-step quickness to the ball, which will increase his range. [He needs to] soften his hands a little bit. [His] hand-eye coordination to the ball needs to be a little better. That comes with repetition, repetition, repetition." Braun finished 2007 last of all eligible third basemen in fielding percentage (.895, with 26 errors; only the fourth third baseman since 1916 to play 100 games or more in a season and have a fielding percentage under .900),[178] range factor (2.11), and zone rating (.697). His target at first base was Prince Fielder, who finished 2007 last of all eligible major league first basemen in range factor (8.49), and first in errors (14).[179] Similarly, his target at second base, Rickie Weeks, had the lowest fielding percentage of all NL second basemen (.976), and the lowest zone rating among all major league second basemen (.737).[180]
It was suggested that it was possible that Braun would learn to play the position adequately, given that David Wright (who tied for the major league lead in errors by a third baseman in 2005 (his second in the league)[181] in 2007 became a "passable defender" (and won the NL Gold Glove at third base).[182]
Braun, for his part, noted after the 2007 season: "It's only my second full (professional) year of playing third base. I don't expect to be perfect, but I certainly expect to be better than I have been. I have to continue to work hard, and hopefully I'll improve."[42]
In January 2008, however, the Brewers acquired three-time Gold Glove-winning center fielder Mike Cameron, prompting the team to move center fielder Bill Hall to third base and Braun to left field.
Before the news broke, Braun was taking ground balls at Pepperdine University near Los Angeles. General Manager Doug Melvin left him a voicemail, and after returning the call and learning of the team's plans Braun grabbed his outfield glove, and started taking fly balls. Braun supported the switch. "[The outfield glove] is not broken in yet, but it will get there. I feel like I'm a good enough athlete and have a good enough work ethic to make the transition pretty easily."[183]
While Braun's outfield experience until then had consisted of "two games in center field my freshman year in high school,"[184] Braun had speed, arm strength that would make him stand out against other left fielders, and athleticism to make the transition.[185] Early reports were good, as in spring training in 2008 he showed an ability to cover ground, go back on the ball, to his left into the gap, and to his right to cut off balls down the line.[21] Braun looked good tracking liners and high fly balls, and took good routes when cutting off balls down the line or in the gap, holding batters to singles.[186] In March 2008 Manager Ned Yost said that Braun has been "spectacular" in left,[187] and "he's got an opportunity one day to win a Gold Glove in left field. He certainly does."[188]
In July, by which time Braun was being mentioned in the press as a Gold Glove candidate, Ed Sedar, the Brewers' outfield defense expert, said: "He probably has the best arm in baseball in left field. He can cover more ground than 90% of the outfielders out there."[189]
In 2008, Braun led all major league outfielders with a 1.000 fielding percentage. He also led all NL left fielders in putouts (275), and was second in the league in range factor (1.95) and fourth in assists (9), in 1,310.1 innings.[190]
On May 23, 2009, Braun was charged with his first error ever in 190 games in left field, when his throw to third was not caught by either Bill Hall or Craig Counsell, one of whom should have caught it according to Manager Ken Macha, but both of whom were confused as to who was covering the base.[191][192] In July 2009, ESPN's Jon Heyman wrote that Braun had "become a terrific left fielder in no time".[193] Braun led all NL left fielders in 2009 with a .994 fielding percentage. He also led them in putouts (304) and range factor (2.06), was tied for the lead in double plays (2), and was third in assists (8), in 1,364 innings.[194]
In 2010, Braun led NL left fielders in putouts for the third year in a row (279), was second in range factor per game (1.86), and 4th in assists (6).[120]
Braun was born in Mission Hills, Los Angeles. He grew up in a tight-knit mixed-religion family. His mother Diane is Catholic and his father Joe, who was born in Israel and immigrated to the United States at age seven, is Jewish.[195] [196][197]
Braun considers himself Jewish. In an 2007 Interview he said: “It's a touchy subject because I don't want to offend anybody, and I don't want groups claiming me now because I'm having success. But I do consider myself definitely Jewish. And I'm extremely proud to be a role model for young Jewish kids”.[195] “It's something that draws a lot of interest and something I take pride in”.[198] “But I don't want to make it into something more than what it is. I didn't have a Bar Mitzvah. I don't want to pretend that I did. I didn't celebrate the holidays”.[195] His father, who is the son of European Jews who escaped the Nazis and whose families were nearly destroyed in the Holocaust explains: “There's a lot of heritage there, and Ryan realizes that and is able to embrace his heritage”.[195]
Braun's nickname "The Hebrew Hammer",[198][199][200] which was also a nickname for former All-Stars Al Rosen[201] and Hank Greenberg,[202] refers to his Jewish heritage. It is also the nickname of former teammate Gabe Kapler and references former Milwaukee star Hank Aaron (whose nickname was "Hammerin' Hank"), and the movie The Hebrew Hammer, starring Adam Goldberg.[203]
Braun is one of the highest-drafted Jewish ballplayers in the history of professional baseball. The New York Yankees made Ron Blomberg the number one pick in the 1967 draft.[4] Braun was considered the best Jewish minor league baseball prospect in 2006,[204] and became major league baseball's first Jewish Rookie of the Year the following season.[205][206] In each of 2007 and 2008, Braun hit more home runs (34 and 37) than all but 3 of the top 10 career Jewish home run hitters had hit in their best seasons. Only Hank Greenberg (58), Shawn Green (49), and Al Rosen (43) hit more in a single year. Through the 2010 season, he was 2nd on the all-time career list in batting average (behind Hank Greenberg), 7th in home runs (behind Mike Epstein), and 10th on the RBI list (behind Kevin Youkilis), for Jewish major leaguers.[207]
"Braun" was, coincidentally, the family name of Sandy Koufax, until his mother remarried and he took his stepfather's name. "There's no [family] connection that I know of," Braun said, "but it's kind of cool."[198] In another coincidence, Braun lived for a time with his maternal grandfather in a house that previously belonged to Jewish Hall of Fame outfielder Hank Greenberg.[197] Braun's grandfather has lived in the house for over 40 years.[4]
In December 2007, Braun was the only Jewish athlete invited by President George W. Bush to the annual Hanukkah Dinner at the White House, where he talked baseball with the President.[66][208] Braun was later featured in the 2008 Hank Greenberg 75th Anniversary edition of Jewish Major Leaguers Baseball Cards, published in affiliation with Fleer Trading Cards and the American Jewish Historical Society, commemorating the Jewish Major Leaguers from 1871 through 2008.[206] Braun was one of three Jewish players in the 2008 All-Star Game, joining Kinsler and Youkilis, and one of three Jewish players on the Team USA 2009 World Baseball Classic team, joining Youkilis and Grabow.[209][210] He and Feldman were voted the 2009 co-Jewish MVP by Jewish Major Leaguers, and he was voted the 2010 Jewish MVP as Breslow received the Most Valuable Jewish Pitcher honors.[211][212] "There aren't too many Jewish athletes at the highest level," said Braun. "It's something that I certainly embrace."[213][214]
Braun was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in January 2010.[215][216]
The Jewish Daily Forward lists him on position five on the 2011 “Forward 50”, its list of the fity most significant American Jews.[217]
In 2011, Braun became the fourth self-identifying Jewish player, and the first in nearly a half-century, to win the Most Valuable Player Award, after Greenberg (1935 and 1940), Rosen (1953), and Koufax (1963).
Braun's younger brother, middle infielder Steve Braun, played for the University of Maryland, College Park. He signed with the Brewers in 2008 as a free agent,[218] and in 2009 was on the roster of the Brewers' low-A affiliate, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.[219]
Braun developed his own signature fashion t-shirt line for Affliction Clothing, a California-based clothing manufacturer who manufactures shirts that are garment dyed and hand distressed.[220] In August 2008, he filmed a YouTube video with supermodel Marisa Miller for Remington's ShortCut clippers.[221] In October 2008, Apple released a commercial for a new iPhone, that showed a clip of Braun's 10th inning walk-off grand slam against the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 25, 2008, which kept the Brewers' Wild Card hopes alive. Gatorade used the same clip in its November 2008 "League of Clutch" commercial.[222]
Braun has signed endorsement deals with CytoSport, a supplement maker, Nike, Wilson, Mikita Sports for autographs and memorabilia, Sam Bat, and AirTran Airways, and is working on his own line of aluminum bats.[66][223] He has appeared in commercials for Muscle Milk, Dick's Sporting Goods, and regional convenience store chain Kwik Trip.[224] He turned down a request by ABC that he appear on the TV show "The Bachelor".[225]
In 2010, Braun opened two restaurants in Wisconsin, Ryan Braun's Waterfront in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward and Ryan Braun's Tavern & Grill in Lake Geneva.[224] In late 2010, Braun's Milwaukee location closed for remodeling and re-opened in April 2011 as Ryan Braun's Graffito, an Italian restaurant.[226]
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- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
- Nashville Sounds bio
- BR Bullpen profile
- ArmchairGM Profile
- "Baseball America Freshman of the Year, 2003, Ryan Braun" June 16, 2003
- Ryan Braun (Nashville Sounds) Interview The Brew Crew Review, April 2007
- "Adam Carolla Interviews Braun – Jim Rome Is Burning," August 2007
- "Ryan Braun Goes For Rookie Slugging Record," August 23, 2007
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- 1980: Baker, Dawson, Hendrick
- 1981: Baker, Dawson, Foster
- 1982: Durham, Guerrero, Murphy
- 1983: Cruz, Dawson, Murphy
- 1984: Cruz, Gwynn, Murphy
- 1985: McGee, Murphy, Parker
- 1986: Gwynn, Parker, Raines
- 1987: Davis, Dawson, Gwynn
- 1988: Gibson, Van Slyke, Strawberry
- 1989: Davis, Gwynn, Mitchell
- 1990: Bonds, Bonilla, Strawberry
- 1991: Bonds, Bonilla, Gant
- 1992: Bonds, Van Slyke, Walker
- 1993: Bonds, Dykstra, Justice
- 1994: Alou, Bonds, Gwynn
- 1995: Bichette, Gwynn, Sosa
- 1996: Bonds, Burks, Sheffield
- 1997: Bonds, Gwynn, Walker
- 1998: Alou, Sosa, Vaughn
- 1999: Guerrero, Sosa, Walker
- 2000: Bonds, Guerrero, Sosa
- 2001: Bonds, Gonzalez, Sosa
- 2002: Bonds, Guerrero, Sosa
- 2003: Bonds, Pujols, Sheffield
- 2004: Abreu, Bonds, Edmonds
- 2005: Cabrera, Jones, Lee
- 2006: Beltrán, Holliday, Soriano
- 2007: Beltrán, Holliday, Lee
- 2008: Braun, Holliday, Ludwick
- 2009: Braun, Ethier, Kemp
- 2010: Braun, González, Holliday
- 2011: Braun, Kemp, Upton
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- 1968: none
- 1969: G. Thomas
- 1970: Porter
- 1971: Bianco
- 1972: D. Thomas
- 1973: Yount
- 1974: Edge
- 1975: O'Keefe
- 1976: Bordley
- 1977: Molitor
- 1978: Hernandez
- 1979: none
- 1980: James
- 1981: none
- 1982: Sveum
- 1983: Plesac
- 1984: Clark
- 1985: Surhoff
- 1986: Sheffield
- 1987: Spiers
- 1988: Fernandez
- 1989: Eldred, Powell
- 1990: none
- 1991: Henderson, Hill
- 1992: Felder, Martinez
- 1993: D'Amico, Wunsch, Dunn, Wagner
- 1994: Williamson
- 1995: Jenkins
- 1996: Green
- 1997: Peterson
- 1998: Gold
- 1999: Sheets
- 2000: Krynzel
- 2001: Jones
- 2002: Fielder
- 2003: Weeks
- 2004: Rogers
- 2005: Braun
- 2006: Jeffress
- 2007: LaPorta
- 2008: Lawrie, Odorizzi, Frederickson
- 2009: Arnett, Davis, Heckathorn
- 2010: Covey
- 2011: Jungmann, Bradley
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| Active roster |
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| Inactive roster |
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| Disabled list |
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| Coaching staff |
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| Persondata |
| Name |
Braun, Ryan |
| Alternative names |
The Hebrew Hammer |
| Short description |
Major League baseball player |
| Date of birth |
November 17, 1983 |
| Place of birth |
Mission Hills, CA |
| Date of death |
NA |
| Place of death |
NA |
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