PHOENIX — Ryan Braun says he’s strongly leaning toward retirement, but the Milwaukee Brewers‘ home run leader isn’t ready to make any decision regarding his future.
Braun visited the Brewers’ spring training site Monday and said he hasn’t picked up a bat since the end of the 2020 season. The 2011 NL MVP became a free agent when the Brewers declined to exercise a $15 million mutual option in his contract last October.
“I’m strongly leaning in the direction of being done as an active player,” the 37-year-old Braun said. “But I think you can always push that decision back. I’m still young enough, still working out, still in shape. If something were to change, I might as well leave that door open as long as possible.”
Braun has spent his entire major league career with the Brewers and said that “I can’t foresee a scenario in which I play for any other major league team.”
Last season, Braun batted a career-low .233 with seven homers and 27 RBI in 39 games while dealing with a back issue. He came on strong late in the season and had a .958 OPS in September.
His back issues prevented him from playing in the Brewers’ first-round playoff loss to the eventual World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Once the regular season starts and I’m able to watch some games, I feel like that’s when I’ll actually miss the game itself,” Braun said. “I’m kind of interested to see how I feel, what it feels like. Obviously I’ve never experienced it before. Time will tell.”
Braun made his debut with Milwaukee in 2007. His 352 homers as a Brewer are the most of anyone in franchise history.
He ranks second among all Brewers in career RBI (1,154), extra-base hits (809), total bases (3,525) and doubles (408). He ranks third in runs (1,080), hits (1,963), triples (49), stolen bases (216) and walks (586).