Ryan Braun has had an up-and-down career when it comes to his reverence among the baseball faithful, but in the sixth inning of Milwaukee’s Wednesday afternoon game against the Marlins, he put himself in the history books for good. His solo shot off Miami reliever Chris Narveson was the 252nd home run of his career, passing Hall-of-Famer and Brewers legend everyman Robin Yount to become the franchise’s all-time leader in home runs.
Ryan Braun Becomes All-Time Brewers Home Run King
This feat shouldn’t come as a surprise to Brewer nation. Braun has been in the limelight of Milwaukee ever since the franchise took him fifth overall out of the University of Miami in the 2005 Major League draft. He breezed through the Brewers minor league system, drawing praise at every stop until he was given the call-up after spring training in 2007. He excelled immediately, winning the 2007 Rookie of the Year award, batting .324 with 34 home runs and 97 RBI with a 1.004 OPS in 113 games. From 2008-2012, Braun was a perennial All-Star, Silver Slugger and MVP candidate in the National League, achieving all three in 2011, sporting a line of .332, 33 HR, 111 RBI, leading the league with a .994 OPS and joining the 30-30 club (33 HR, 33 SB).
Braun’s place in history, however, was put in jeopardy after he failed a testosterone test during his MVP season, then in 2012 being connected to the Miami-based Biogenesis of America clinic that produced performance-enchanting drugs to major league ball players. Due to the Biogenesis scandal, on July 23, 2013, Braun was suspended for the remainder of the 2013 season for violating the MLB’s drug policy, resulting in the loss of 65 games.
Braun was welcomed with open arms back to Milwaukee in the 2014 season after serving his suspension. He produced career-lows in his comeback season, hitting .266 with 19 home runs. However, he did lead the Brewers in RBI (81) and was one of the main components in Milwaukee’s playoff push. Braun, now in his ninth major league season, is hitting .276 with 22 home runs and 76 RBI so far this season.
Braun passed Hall-of-Famer Robin Yount to take over the top spot. Yount, announced as one of the Brewers’s Franchise Four this season, was twice league MVP at two different positions in the 80’s, producing 3,142 career hits. Braun seems to be on top of this list for years to come, as the closest active Brewers player is Johnathan Lucroy with 63 home runs.
When the Brewers are on the road, and Ryan Braun visits other major league parks outside of Miller Park, he understands the uncountable amounts of boos that have come and will continue to come throughout his career. But in Milwaukee, he is highly revered. However you view Braun’s career as a major league ball player, he will always be remembered as a Brewers legend, and his solo shot this Wednesday afternoon solidifies that.
