Ryan Braun

For the pitcher of the same name, see Ryan Zachary Braun.

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Full Name: Ryan Joseph Braun Primary Position: LF Height/Weight: 6' 2"/200 First Game: May 25, 2007 Birthdate: November 17, 1983 MLB Experience: 1 year Birthplace: Mission Hills, California Bat/Throw: Right/Right

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[edit] Biography

Ryan Joseph Braun is the current starting left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. Born on November 17, 1983 in Granada Hills, California, Braun made highly anticipated major league debut on May 25, 2007 for the Brewers.

After going undrafted out of high school in 2002 despite being named one of the top 100 prospects by Baseball America, Braun attended the University of Miami, where he was named a First Team Freshman All-American after batting .364 with 17 home runs and 74 RBIs.

During his junior season, his final year with the Hurricanes, he batted .396 with 18 home runs and 76 RBIs. He also stole 21 bases and was named a finalist for the 2005 Golden Spikes Award, an honor that Milwaukee Brewer teammate Rickie Weeks was awarded two years earlier.

[edit] Minor League Career

The Brewers drafted Braun with the fifth overall pick of the 2005 draft and signed him for $2.5 million. He was highly regarded as the most well-rounded player in that year's draft.

Braun was assigned immediately to the Brewers' Rookie ball team, where he spent just 10 games before being promoted to Single-A.

Braun began the 2006 season with the Brewers High A team in Brevard County (Florida) where he earned a spot in the Florida State League All-Star Game. Soon after, he was promoted to Double-A Huntsville. Between the two leagues, Braun batted .289 with 22 home runs, 77 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases and earned himself a spot at the All-Star Futures Game in Pittsburgh.

In 2007, Braun was named the Brewers' second best prospect behind Yovani Gallardo, who both began the season as teammates in Triple-A Nashville. In 113 at-bats, he led the Pacific Coast League with a .726 slugging percentage. He also had a batting average of .354 and 10 home runs.

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[edit] Major League Career

[edit] 2007

Due to the absence of regular third-basemen Corey Koskie, who was still recovering from post-concussion syndrome, the fact that the Brewers' platoon of Craig Counsell and Tony Graffanino was stuggling, and the Brewers were short another infielder after Rickie Weeks spent a short stint on the DL, Braun was called up to the big leagues on May 24.

The next day, in his first game, Braun collected his first career hit, a double off of San Diego Padre Doug Brocail. He hit his first career home run the next night against Justin Germano.

On July 26, Braun became the fastest player since Albert Pujols to reach 15 home runs. He also became the first player to ever receive Player of the Month and Rookie of the Month honors for the same month for July.

On September 9, Braun broke Prince Fielder's franchise record for home runs by a rookie with his 29th of the season in the first inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds. Braun's was the last of three consecutive home runs to lead off the game by the Brewers--the other two coming from Rickie Weeks and J.J. Hardy. Braun added his 30th in the next inning.

Braun finished the season with 34 dingers and 97 RBIs in only 113 games played. His .634 slugging percentage was the highest for a rookie ever. He also committed a league-worst 26 errors, but was awarded the Rookie of the Year regardless, edging Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki by only two points, the smallest margin under the current voting system.

[edit] Player Honors

• Golden Spikes Award, 2005
• National League Rookie of the Year, 2007

[edit] Scouting Report

Braun could be considered a five-tool player, but many have been quick to point out his below average defense. He has already committed seven errors in just 37 games with Milwaukee.

On offense, however, he's as good as they come. He hits for average (currently hitting .340 through July 6th), has tremendous power to any part of the ballpark (eight home runs) and can steal when the time is right (has eight steals in nine attempts).

[edit] Jewish Heritage

• Braun is Jewish. "It's something that draws a lot of interest and something I take pride in," Braun told the Journal-Sentinel (WI) His father, Joe, is an Israel who immigrated to the United States at the age of 7.
• Braun is one of the highest-drafted Jewish ballplayers in the history of professional baseball. The New York Yankees made Ron Blomberg the #1 in the 1967 draft. Braun was considered the best Jewish minor league baseball prospect in 2006.^[1]
• Some fellow players have begun calling him the "Hebrew Hammer", referencing his Jewish heritage and his offensive ability.

[edit] Statistics

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[edit] Transactions

• Selected by Milwaukee Brewers in the 1st round (5th pick) of the free-agent draft (June 7, 2005 - signed June 18, 2005).

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[edit] See Also

1. ↑ Minor League's top Jewish prospects, May 10, 2006.

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