Ryan Braun (braunry01)

Ryan Zachary Braun

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 215 lb.
• School University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Wake Forest University
• High School Edison High School
• Debut September 2, 2006
• Final Game September 25, 2007
• Born July 29, 1980 in Kitchener, ON CAN

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Biographical Information

A catcher and pitcher in high school, the other Ryan Braun was taken in the 23rd round of the 1998 amateur draft by the Anaheim Angels but did not sign. He was 3-3 with a save and a 3.76 ERA for Wake Forest in 2000. In 2001, he went 4-2 with a 4.53 ERA for Wake Forest. He followed with a 2-2, 5.45 year. After transferring to UNLV, he was 5-3 with a 3.44 ERA and seven saves in 2003, tying for the Mountain West lead in saves and making the All-Conference team as the relief pitcher. The Kansas City Royals took the hard-throwing right-hander in the sixth round of the 2003 amateur draft. He was signed by scout Mike Brown for $1,000 and made his pro debut that summer.

Braun began his professional career with the AZL Royals, notching a team-high three saves in 18 appearances, striking out 25 in 21 1/3 innings and allowing 15 hits. He had no decisions and a 2.95 ERA. The next year, he moved on to the Wilmington Blue Rocks and was 2-3 with a 2.21 ERA and 24 saves. He was second in the Carolina League in saves, a distant 14 behind Dwayne Pollok. Braun was limited to 8 games due to a shoulder injury in 2005 - he was 1-0, 4.50 for the High Desert Mavericks and 0-1, 17.36 for the Wichita Wranglers. In 2006, Braun went 1-6 with a 2.21 ERA and 10 saves in 26 tries for Wichita and 0-2 with three saves and a 2.16 ERA for the Omaha Royals for an overall line of 1-8, 2.19 with 80 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings. Kansas City called Braun up in September, when he went 0-1, 6.75 in 9 appearances out of the bullpen. He was back with the Royals for 26 games in 2007, but was again hit hard, going 2-0 but with a 6.64 ERA. In 39 1/3 innings; he allowed loads of traffic on the basepaths, surrendering 46 hits and 22 walks while striking out 24. His big league days were over, as he underwent elbow surgery and missed the entirety of 2008. After two seasons in the minor league system of the Chicago White Sox, he called it a career after 3 appearances with the Atlantic League's Lancaster Barnstormers in 2011.

Sources: 1999-2006 Baseball Almanacs, Thebaseballcube.com, Minorleaguebaseball.com