MILWAUKEE, WI (OnFocus) – Longtime Milwaukee Brewer player Ryan Braun officially announced his retirement on social media on Tuesday.
The former All-Star and NL MVP left fielder was reportedly not interested in playing this season but didn’t officially rule out a comeback until his recent retirement.
Braun announced his retirement in a video to fans via the Milwaukee Brewers Twitter page.
“Today, more than 14 years after I first took the field as a Milwaukee Brewer, I’ve decided to retire,” Braun said. “While it’s impossible to summarize my emotions, what I feel most is one, simple thing – gratitude. I just wanted to take a moment to say ‘thank you.'”
Today, more than 14 years after I first took the field as a Milwaukee Brewer, I’ve decided to retire. While it’s impossible to summarize my emotions, what I feel most is one, simple thing – gratitude.
I just wanted to take a moment to say ‘thank you’.
– Ryan Braun pic.twitter.com/pQxuW9qk1z
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 14, 2021
Braun thanked fans for their continuous support throughout his career.
“To the fans, thank you for showing me and my family unconditional love and always making us feel like we truly belong to this community,” Braun said. “Thank you for packing the ballpark night in and night out for 14 years. You make coming to the ballpark every day a joy and I cannot imagine a better playing experience than being a Brewer for life.”
Braun’s last game action for the Brewers came in 2020 when he appeared in 39 games and recorded a .233 batting average with eight home runs and 26 RBIs.
Braun will finish his illustrious as a .296 hitter with 352 HR, 1,154 RBI and 216 stolen bases in 1,766 games.
He won the National League MVP award in 2011 while leading the Brewers to a postseason birth.
Brewers Chairman and Principal Owner Mark Attanasio offered his thoughts on Braun’s announcement.
“Ryan brought us many unforgettable moments on the field; from playoff-clinching, dramatic home runs to nearly 2,000 career hits, he is unquestionably one of the greatest players in Brewers history,” Attanasio said. “Moreover, Ryan has become a good friend to our family, and his commitment of countless service hours and more than $1 million to community causes over the years has impacted many lives.
“Ryan was the first player drafted after I took ownership of the Brewers, and I remember that day very well,” Attanasio continued. “Today, we reflect on the impact that Ryan had during his 14 seasons wearing the Brewers uniform. Ryan is our all-time franchise home run leader and one of the great clutch hitters in the game. We were fortunate to have a front row seat for many of these moments that defined some of the organization’s greatest achievements to date. We wish Ryan, his wife Larisa, and their family the very best, and look forward to continuing our friendship as they move into the next chapter of their lives.”
Braun’s career did not come without controversy, however. After a 2011 scandal, Braun won an appeal that would have otherwise suspended the outfielder for 50 games for a failed drug test.
In 2013, Braun was linked to the Biogenesis scandal and was suspended for the rest of the 2013 season, a 65-game suspension.
In an emotional interview, Braun admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs, trying to blame others for faulty drug tests and he apologized.
Braun currently resides in Granada Hills, California with his wife, Larisa Fraser.
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