Braun, 2011 NL MVP, announces retirement

Ryan Braun, the Milwaukee Brewers’ home run leader whose production was slowed by injuries during the second half of his 14-year career, announced his retirement Tuesday.

Braun hasn’t played this season and said during spring training that he was leaning toward retirement. The 2007 NL Rookie of the Year and 2011 NL MVP made it official Tuesday in a video the Brewers posted on Twitter.

“While it’s impossible to summarize my emotions right now, what I feel most is one simple thing: gratitude,” Braun said.

Braun, 37, batted .296 with 352 homers and 1,154 RBIs. He ranks second among Milwaukee hitters in RBIs (1,154), extra-base hits (809), total bases (3,525) and doubles (408).

Braun became a free agent after the Brewers declined to exercise a $15 million mutual option in October. The six-time AllStar hit a career-low .233 with eight homers and 26 RBIs in 2020.

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