When the discussion of who is the greatest Brewers’ player of all-time is brought up, the answer to most fans is Robin Yount. However, for a while, it appeared as if Ryan Braun was going to one day be a contender for that title. Though his career did not turn out the way many envisioned, he is definitely one of the most beloved players in team history. Of course, there are many who are still bitter of the BALCO scandal.
For most, though, Braun’s pennance and loyalty to the city of Milwaukee have absolved him. When his playing career ended in 2020, without fans present, many felt it was not the ending he deserved. While he did receive a nice ovation in front of fans when he officially announced his retirement in September of 2021, he did not get the farewell tour many wanted for him. In this edition of Brewers Past and Present, we take a look at the storied career of the Brewers’ all-time home runs leader.
The Minor Leagues
Ryan Braun was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers with the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 2005 amateur draft. In less than two years, he would be in the Majors for good.
In 2005, his first professional season, Braun split time between Rookie Level Helena and A-Level West Virginia. Playing in 47 games, he hit .352/.393/.632 with 10 home runs and 45 RBI. The next season, Braun split time High-A Brevard County and Double-A Huntsville. In 118, the slugger hit .289/357/.518 with 22 home runs and 77 RBI. It was clear that he was not going to be a prospect for long.
In 2007, Braun started the season in Triple-A Nashville. In 34 games, he hit .342/.418/.701 with 10 home runs and 34 RBI. On May 25, he made his Major League debut with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Ryan Braun- The Golden Years: 2007-2012
From 2007-2012, the case could be made that Ryan Braun was the best offensive player in baseball. In his rookie season, he hit .324/.370/.634 with 34 home runs and 97 RBI. His .634 OPS led the National League. He won National League Rookie of the Year and finished 24th in MVP voting.
2008
Of course, the one knock against Braun in his rookie season was his terrible defense. To remedy this, the Brewers moved him from third base to left field. The transition did not affect his offense, though. In his first full MLB season, Braun hit .285/.335/.553 with 37 home runs and 106 RBI. He was a first-time All-Star and received his first career Silver Slugger. Braun also finished third in MVP voting.
The most important part of that season was that Braun helped the Milwaukee Brewers end their 26-year playoff drought. Despite the Brewers losing in the opening round to the eventual champion Phillies, it was clear that Milwaukee had ushered in a new era. Ryan Braun was to be a part of a Brewers team that would compete for years to come.
The Brewers and Ryan Braun proved this by agreeing to an eight-year $45 million contract, ensuring that the slugger would remain with the Brewers for the prime of his career.
2009
The 2009 Milwaukee Brewers went 80-82, missing the playoffs. Ryan Braun, though, had a great season at the plate. He led the NL with 203 hits while slashing .320/.386/.551. He also slugged 37 home runs and drove in 114 runs. Braun made his second consecutive All-Star roster and won his second Silver Slugger.
2010
Unfortunately, the promise that 2008 brought was not realized again in 2010. The Milwaukee Brewers finished 77-85 under Ken Macha, who was let go at the end of the season. Braun, too, saw a slight dip in his performance, but was still a dominant hitter that season.
In this “down year,” Braun hit .304/.365/.501 with 25 home runs and 103 RBI. He was still an All-Star and a Silver Slugger recipient.
2011
There have been many great individual seasons in Milwaukee Brewers history. Ryan Braun’s 2011 season is one them. Most importantly, the Brewers went 96-66 under new manager Ron Roenicke, winning the division and advancing all the way the NLCS.
That season, Braun hit .332/.397/.994 with 33 home runs and 111 RBI. He led the NL in on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Braun made his third consecutive All-Star team, won his third straight Silver Slugger, and won the NL MVP. He was the first Brewers player to win MVP since Robin Yount in 1989.
Not only did Braun help put Milwaukee baseball back on the map, he signed a contract extension on top of the deal he signed in 2008. This five-year $105 deal all but guaranteed that Braun would spend his entire career in Milwaukee.
2012
When the 2012 season began, everyone had a feeling the Brewers would take a step back. Prince Fielder departed via free agency for Detroit, despite the Brewers offering of a $100 million contract. The team finished 83-79, third in the Central and missed the playoffs.
Ryan Braun, though, picked up where he left off at the end of his MVP season. In 2012, Braun hit .319/.391/.595 with 41 home runs and 112 RBI. He led the NL in home runs, runs (108), and slugging. He made the All-Star team again, won the Silver Slugger again, and finished second in MVP voting. Unfortunately, nothing would be the same for Braun again after this season.
The BALCO Scandal
In 2013, Ryan Braun was caught up in a scandal involving performance enhancing drugs. It came out that Braun had been taking gummies that helped keep him injury free and enhanced his performance at the plate.
The worst part of the situation was how Ryan Braun handled it. He lied to the fans and media, saying that the person who handled his sample was responsible for the failed test. The poor guy was dragged in the mud of the media before being cleared of any wrongdoing. Braun apologized and reportedly made amends with him, but the damage to his reputation was done. Braun was suspended for the remainder of the season.
In that disappointing 2013 season, Braun played in just 61 games. He hit .298/.372/.498 with nine home runs and 38 RBI. His time as a perennial All-Star and Silver Slugger winner were over. It seemed, too, that Milwaukee’s competitive window had closed as well. The Brewers finished 74-88 that year, fourth in the Central.
A Disappointing 2014
When Ryan Braun returned to the field in 2014, he was ready to leave the BALCO scandal behind him. Unfortunately, his play on the field and at the plate declined substantially. That year, he hit .266/.324/.453 with 19 home runs and 81 RBI.
To show his continued commitment to the team, Braun agreed to be moved to right field. This, however, did not stop him from being met with “boo’s” from crowds wherever he played. Cities like Chicago and St. Louis continued this treatment of him for the rest of his career.
The Milwaukee Brewers, however, showed improvement as a team. Their record improved to 82-80, but they still finished just third in the Central.
2015-2016
In the two seasons following his return from suspension, Ryan Braun played at a level that mirrored his glory days prior to 2013. The 2015 season started out terribly for the Brewers. Ron Roenicke was fired after a 7-18 start and replaced with Craig Counsell. Milwaukee finished the year 68-94, fourth in the Central.
Ryan Braun, however, showed flashes of his former self. Still in right field, he hit .285/.356/.498 with 25 home runs and 85 RBI. Braun was named to his final career All-Star team that season as well.
2016 was another rebuilding year for the Brewers. The team finished 73-89 under Counsell, finishing fourth once again. Ryan Braun, however, had another good year at the plate. Moving back to left field, Braun hit .305/.365/.538 with 30 home runs and 91 RBI. It was the last season in which he hit 30 home runs and drove in more than 90 runs.
Ryan Braun- The Twilight Years
Like almost all players, the final years of Ryan Braun’s career were rather lackluster. While the team saw regular season success like it had never seen before, Braun played less and less due to injury. His numbers declined, but he remained an important leader in the clubhouse.
2017
Everyone remembers 2018 as the year the Brewers returned to contention. However, it was really 2017 that was the dawn of what is now a perennial winning baseball team. Ryan Braun, hampered with an injured back, now took on a supporting role on a team that saw three players mash 30 or more home runs. Eric Thames and Travis Shaw each hit 31 while Domingo Santana hit 30. The Brewers finished 86-76. They missed the playoffs, but finished second in the division.
For his part, Ryan Braun hit .268/.336/.487 with 17 home runs and 52 RBI. He was limited to just 104 games due to his injury.
2018
The magical 2018 season saw the Milwaukee Brewers win their first division title since 2011. Under Craig Counsell’s leadership, the Crew finished 97-66 and was within a game of the World Series. Again, three players hit 30 or more home runs. Jesus Aguilar finished with 35. Newly acquired Christian Yelich hit 36 in route to the NL MVP Award. Travis Shaw hit 32.
Ryan Braun, the elder statesman on the Brewers, hit .254/.313/.469 with 20 home runs and 64 RBI. He played in 125 games, still limited by his ailing back. In the playoffs, Braun hit .285 and drove in four runs in the NLCS.
2019
The Milwaukee Brewers finished 83-79 in 2019, winning the NL Wild Card. Famously, the team lost the Wild Card game to the eventual World Series Champions, the Washington Nationals. Christian Yelich hit 44 home runs, but suffered a broken knee cap late in the season. Five players, including Ryan Braun, hit more than 20 home runs that season.
For Ryan Braun, it was a final “good” season near the end of his storied career. He hit .285/.343/.505 with 22 home runs and 75 RBI in 144 games. He also mashed 31 doubles, his highest total since 2014.
2020
The 2020 season was shortened to 60 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Brewers went 29-31, clinching one of the two Wild Card spots that season. Unfortunately for the team and Ryan Braun, Braun was limited to just 31 games due to his ailing back. He hit just .233/.281/.488 with eight home runs and 26 RBI. These numbers were the lowest of his career, and not just because of the pandemic. The writing was on the wall. His body just could not hold up to the grind of a Major League season anymore.
So ended the playing career of Ryan Braun. No fans. No last ovation. The Brewers brought him back in 2021 for a single day so that he could officially retire in front of an adoring crowd, but it was not the same. Despite his PED scandal, Ryan Braun endeared himself to Milwaukee, and will remain one of the most beloved figures in team history. Even if the Brewers do not officially retire his number, one thing is certain: no one will wear #8 in Milwaukee ever again.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherAdams14 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
