MLB Logo icon

Ryan Braun's career highlights

June 7, 2005: Fifth overall pick

The Brewers spent months debating between two college shortstops: Troy Tulowitzki and Ryan Braun. They picked Braun. Tulowitzki went to the Rockies two picks later.

May 25, 2007: MLB debut

With family and friends at Petco Park, Braun doubled and drove in two runs. He had a .324 average and 34 homers to win the '07 NL Rookie of the Year Award.

May 15, 2008: For the long haul

He signed an eight-year, $45 million extension in his 1st full season, the longest deal in franchise history and a record for a player with less than one year of service time.

Sept. 28, 2008: Playoff drought-breaking homer

Braun sent the Crew to the postseason for the first time since 1982 with an eighth-inning, tie-breaking two-run shot in the last game of the regular season.

April 21, 2011: A brewer for life

Braun inked a contract extension that added five years and another $105 million to his deal.

This browser does not support the video element.

Sept. 23, 2011: Déjà vu all over again

He delivered another tie-breaking home run in the bottom of the 8th to help clinch a postseason berth. This time, Milwaukee secured its 1st division title in 29 years.

September 23, 2011

Nov. 22, 2011: NL MVP

Braun received 20 of 32 first-place votes to edge out Matt Kemp and become the Brewers’ 1st MVP since Robin Yount in 1982.

This browser does not support the video element.

2012: Bounce-back season

After becoming the first big leaguer to have a PED suspension overturned on appeal, Braun led the NL in homers and total bases, surpassing 200 career home runs along the way.

September 16, 2012

July 22, 2013: Suspended again

Nearly two years after his failed drug test, he was suspended for the remaining 65 games of 2013 as the league investigated the Biogenesis clinic in south Florida.

This browser does not support the video element.

Aug. 19, 2015: Braun passes Yount

On the 22nd anniversary of Robin Yount’s final homer, Braun broke his franchise record with career homer No. 252. Said Yount: "It's about time we got a guy with some real power on the top of that list."

August 19, 2015

Sept. 14, 2021: Braun retires

“Certainly, as I reflect on my career, it was not perfect,” he said at the time. “And I'm at peace with that, you know?”

Watch