Ryan Braun Stats & Scouting Report

AB	6622
AVG	.296
OBP	.358
SLG	.532
HR	352

Full name Ryan Joseph Braun
Born 11/17/1983 in Mission Hills, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Miami (FL)
Debut 05/25/2007
Drafted in the 1st round (5th overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2005 (signed for $2,450,000).

View Draft Report

Braun's track record and athletic body give him a chance to be drafted in the first 10 selections. If he's drafted that high, it will be because a team believes in his bat. He has hit ever since he joined Miami's lineup as a freshman in 2003, when he broke Pat Burrell's record for RBIs by a Hurricanes frosh. Braun struggled with a rib-cage strain in 2004, missing 18 games in the spring and not playing up to expectations in the Cape Cod League. He has powered Miami to another top 10 ranking in 2005, however, leading the team in home runs, stolen bases and RBIs, and he ranked among the top 10 in the country in on-base plus slugging percentage and RBIs. Braun has a hitch in his swing and a high, unconventional finish, but his hands are quick enough to make it work, and he's athletic enough to repeat his stroke and drive pitches to all parts of the field. His future position will be the main source of concern for pro teams. He came to college as a shortstop and now plays third, but he has struggled with errors at both spots. Some scouts doubt his infield actions and footwork and say he'll have to move to an outfield corner, where his plus arm and speed could allow him to be an above-average defender in time.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Like Yovani Gallardo, Braun earned a trip to the Futures Game and a promotion to Double-A, where he stepped up his performance in the second half. The fifth overall pick in the 2005 draft, he rated as the top position prospect in the Florida State League. A rare five-tool corner infielder, Braun has tremendous bat speed and profiles as an impact hitter for average and power. He stays back on offspeed pitches and uses the entire field. His speed and arm strength are plus tools as well. He took yoga classes with Mike Lieberthal last offseason to improve his balance. After making 31 errors last season, Braun must improve his footwork at third base. Some scouts believe he'll eventually need to move to the outfield, but Milwaukee believes he'll be a sound defender at the hot corner. He doesn't have the most textbook swing, but it works for him. After hitting .326 in the Arizona Fall League, Braun definitely is ready for Triple-A. The Brewers expect him to complete their homegrown infield by 2008, though he could arrive by the all-star break.
BA's Freshman of the Year in 2003, Braun helped Miami to a pair of College World Series berths in three seasons. He had an All-America season before the Brewers drafted him fifth overall. An elbow strain ended Braun's pro debut two weeks early and limited him to DH duty in instructional league. Braun has all five tools. He works counts waiting for a pitch to hit, then has the bat speed--thanks to very quick hands--to hit for excellent power. His approach and power remind some in the organization of another former Miami third baseman, Pat Burrell. Braun is a plus runner, and his average arm strength should be enough for third base. Braun has a less-than-textbook swing. He could use more balance and a more consistent, less exaggerated load. He needs more repetition at third base, where he'll have to get used to reacting quicker than he did at shortstop, his former position. Braun should reach Double-A Huntsville at some point in 2006. He has enough athleticism and bat to move to an outfield corner if he's not cut out for third base.

Minor League Top Prospects

One of seven players on this list who played in the 2006 Futures Game, Braun excelled after being promoted to Double-A. He boosted his average to .303, more than doubled his home run output from the Florida State League and increased his slugging percentage by 151 points. He also hit .302 in the playoffs, where Huntsville lost to Montgomery in the finals. There's little question about Braun's bat. He shows excellent patience and an advanced knowledge of the strike zone, then uses his quick hands to generate power to all fields. He turns on inside pitches and shows a knack for using the opposite field. He worked hard in the offseason to improve his balance at the plate by taking yoga classes with Mike Lieberthal. Braun plays a physical third base, and there are questions whether he'll be able to stay there in the long term. The majority of his 16 errors in Double-A came on his throws, as he tends to lead with his elbow. If he can't stay at the hot corner, he'd profile well as a corner outfielder.
Braun was the one FSL hitter who left scouts and managers with little to question. He showed present power, and with a smooth swing, he also should hit for average. At third base, he projects as an average defender with solid range and a slightly above-average arm, though his hands and reactions could use some work. On the basepaths, he's an above-average runner. "He pretty much does everything," Fort Myers manager Kevin Boles said. "He has a chance to be a special player. He does it all." Braun's power numbers were lowered because the wind blows in at Brevard County's Space Coast Stadium, where he slugged .383 (compared to .500 on the road). But he showed opposite-field pop and the ability to stay in on breaking balls. He showed an advanced approach, looking to drive balls the other way but ready to pounce if anyone made a mistake on the inner half.
West Virginia got a very young, talented team for its first year of affiliation with the Brewers. Braun, the fifth overall pick in the 2005 draft, was part of a group of second-half reinforcements who helped make the Power respectable. The Brewers hope Braun can join Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks and J.J. Hardy in their homegrown infield of the future. While Braun will need repetitions to overcome his inexperience and stiffness at the hot corner, his bat should move him toward Milwaukee quickly. His quick hands generate excellent bat speed, and he whips the bat through the zone with some uppercut and a high finish. His power is his best tool, and he's also a plus runner with above-average arm strength. His footwork and work ethic will determine whether he can stay at third base or will have to move to an outfield corner.