MLB Suspends Ryan Braun for Remainder of the Season

Ryan Braun will miss the remainder of the 2013 season after being suspended by Major League Baseball. (Image Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports)

We’ve known that suspension were looming from Major League Baseball’s investigation into the BioGenesis clinic and the league announced the first one this afternoon. Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun has been suspended for the remainder of the season for his involvement with the clinic and for his use of performance enhancing drugs, according to Tom Haudricourt of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Braun will miss about 65 games in total and will not be paid during that stretch, meaning he’ll forfeit the roughly $3.4 Million that remains of his $8.5 Million salary this year.

MLB reportedly presented Braun with “volumes” of evidence when the two sides met to discuss his involvement with BioGenesis, according to T.J. Quinn at ESPN’s Outside the Lines. As a result, Braun has accepted the suspension and it will begin immediately.

Braun issued the following statement regarding his acceptance of the suspension:

"As I have acknowledged in the past, I am not perfect. I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions. This situation has taken a toll on me and my entire family, and it has been a distraction to my teammates and the Brewers organization. I am very grateful for the support I have received from players, ownership, and the fans of Milwaukee and around the country. Finally, I wish to apologize to anyone I may have disappointed – all of the baseball fans, especially those in Milwaukee, the great Brewers organization, and my teammates. I am glad to have this matter behind me once and for all, and I cannot wait to get back to the game that I love."

Braun’s name has come up in relation to steroid use in the past, when a failed test first became public following the 2011 season. Braun was ultimately never suspended as an inconsistency in the sample handling process essentially violated the results. He’s since adamantly denied having ever used PEDs, but his acceptance of the suspension here clearly indicates otherwise.

In 61 games this year, Braun has hit .298/.372/.498 in 253 PA. He missed a month while on the disabled list with a thumb injury and Milwaukee went 10-16 during that stretch.

As many as twenty players have been linked to the BioGenesis clinic ever since word first became public knowledge back in January. It was believed that Major League Baseball wanted to announce all of the suspensions together that will stem from the investigation, but news of Braun’s suspension likely comes out first due to his acceptance of the situation. There are believed to be more suspensions coming down in the coming weeks, with some potentially being announced as early as the next few days.