Milwaukee Brewers star Ryan Braun reached a milestone last night, as he belted his 300th career home run.
The Milwaukee Brewers have been a surprise this season, staying in the hunt for the playoffs throughout most of the 2017 campaign. Despite a questionable offense at times, and spotty pitching, they are still on the edge of the postseason hunt due to their proclivity for the long ball.
On Friday night against the Chicago Cubs, outfielder Ryan Braun belted a home run against John Lackey to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead. It was a needed blast, especially in a must win series against their divisional rivals. That hit also allowed Braun to reach a milestone, as it was the 300th home run of his career. He became the 145th player in baseball history to reach that milestone, with three others hitting their 300th home runs this season.
The home run could not have come at a better time for either Braun or the Brewers. With Milwaukee in a must win series against their divisional rivals, they need all the offense they can get. Meanwhile, despite a solid .292/.323/.434 batting line since August 1, Braun had hit just two home runs. By reaching that milestone, he may feel less pressure, and be ready to get back to his power hitting ways.
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This also leads to an interesting debate as to Braun’s career. He was infamously suspended for PED usage, the first player to be suspended due to the Biogenesis investigation. This came after he had tested positive for PEDs during the 2011 offseason, but had that suspension overturned on appeal. During the process, he impugned the character of the person who took the sample, claiming various improprieties. In the end, Braun was forced to come clean, admitting to his transgressions.
However, Braun has had a solid career. He has a lifetime .303/.365/.541 batting line, with his 300 home runs. There is a chance he could reach the 1000 RBI mark this season as well, another important milestone. Add in his 190 career steals at 33 years old, and it is possible that Braun could end up as a member of the 300-300 club by the end of his career.
If he continues on this arc, Braun could have a solid case for the Hall of Fame, at least statistically. It may not be outside the realm of possibility that he ends up with close to 500 home runs and 3000 hits. And yet, we saw what a PED suspension did for the Hall of Fame chances of Rafael Palmeiro, who had also reached both milestones. While Braun may get better support on the ballot, his legacy will remain tarnished.
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Milwaukee Brewers star Ryan Braun reached an important milestone with his 300th career home run. Unfortunately, his career numbers are tainted by his past PED usage.