Ryan Braun
"High Fives" all around for
Ryan Braun the mainstay in the
Milwaukee Brewers lineup thru the rest of the decade. His extension of 5 years and $105 million should put a smile on a face! The 5 years were added to the 8 year $45 million he signed for in 2008! The contract adds up to the longest contract ever given to a Milwaukee player. Ryan and
Troy Tulowitzki are the only two players signed thru the 2010 season.
A
2007 rookie of the year, three time starting
all-star and
silver slugger with a third place vote in the
2008 National League MVP race. In 2009 he led the NL in hits with 203. The Brewers are believing in Braun and feel like the franchise has to lock up their franchise player!
The stats he has amassed in such a short time is remarkable. Through 18 games this year and since his rookie season started he has played in 597 games averaged .308 in batting, has crossed the plate 414 times, slugged 133 home runs while generating 432 RBI's. With the slugging he also added some speed with 64 stolen bases.
Hitting is not his only talent. Fielding he also excels. In 2008 Ryan's fielding percentage was number one in the NL with a percentage of 1.00 in 2009 he was 2nd with .994. This season so far he is back at it again with a 1.00 and tied for the lead in the NL again.
Looking at this season Ryan has lived up to expectations that earned him the extension. In the 18 games he already has 23 hits with 5 of them home runs with a .359 batting average and with the glove he is error free.
Milwaukee has a player to build that team around that has got the intangibles to be a superstar and they will pay for it, but keeping the team together is key!
