Ryan Joseph Braun (born November 17, 1983) is an American baseball left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). While currently the starting left fielder for the Brewers, Braun has also played right field during his career and was also a third baseman during his rookie season.
Braun was a two-time All-American at the University of Miami, where he was named "National Freshman of the Year" by Baseball America in 2003. The Brewers drafted him in the first round (fifth overall) in the 2005 MLB draft. He was the team's Minor League Player of the Year in 2006.
Braun is considered a five-tool player for his ability to hit for power and average, his baserunning speed, and his excellent fielding and arm strength. He was ranked number seven by the Sporting News in its 2012 list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball. He was awarded the National League's Rookie of the Year in 2007, has won five Silver Slugger awards (2008–12), and won the National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2011. He was named to five straight All-Star games (2008–12), and then a team-high sixth game in 2015. Braun has led the NL three times in slugging percentage (in 2007, while setting the major league rookie record, 2011, and 2012), three times in extra-base hits (2008, 2011–12), and once each in hits (2009), home runs (2012), and runs (2012). On defense, he led all major league outfielders in fielding percentage in 2008, led NL left fielders in fielding percentage twice (2009 and 2011), and led NL left fielders in range factor in 2009 and 2012. His 128 home runs through 2010 were the 8th-most by any major leaguer ever through their first four seasons. Through 2017, he was sixth among all active ballplayers in career slugging percentage.