MLB 21st century face of the franchise — Milwaukee Brewers: Ryan Braun
They adored Ryan Braun in Milwaukee from the moment the Brewers picked him in the first round of the 2005 draft through his retirement.
Braun concluded his 14-seasonMilwukee career in 2020 having played 1,766 games in Milwaukee blue and gold, zero in the uniform of any other team. He hit 352 home runs, drove in more than 1,100 runs, won the 2007 Rookie of the Year award, and was a six-time All-Star selection.
His reputation even withstood a 2013 suspension for violation of baseball’s PED restrictions. And although Milwaukee had little postseason success during his tenure, that’s not Braun’s fault. In 27 postseason games, he batted .330.
One place where Braun can expect no love is Chicago’s North Side. Cubs fans have grown to hate Braun, their excuse being the PED violation. The real reason may have more to do with his career performance against those divisional rivals: a .311 average and .945 OPS with 40 home runs and 141 RBI.
He ranks third on the franchise’s all-time WAR list, trailing only certified Milwaukee legends Robin Yount and Paul Molitor. Among Brewers whose careers predominantly unfolded in the 21st century, there is no comparison. Geoff Jenkins, No. 2 in Brewer WAR since 2000, trails Braun by nearly 24 games.
In the wings: If Christian Yelich recovers the swing that led him to the 2018 MVP, he could be a candidate.
But the more likely successors to Braun are at the forefront of Milwaukee’s pitching staff. Corbin Burnes is 23-13 with an ERA title and a Cy Young Award since 2021. Brandon Woodruff is 22-14 over that same period.