Recollections of Ryan Braun -- Brevard County

[Mass Haas]

Interesting article -- just goes to show what important little things are learned off the field along the way during the minor league journey:

 

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071114/SPORTS/711140338/1002/SPORTS

 

Braun the pride of Brevard County

BY JIM CAWLEY

FLORIDA TODAY

It's a good bet that brief smiles appeared on the faces of Brevard County baseball fans Monday upon learning one of their own -- Ryan Braun -- was named National League Rookie of the Year.

It was only about a year-and-a-half ago that the 23-year-old third baseman was shagging grounders and driving in runs for the Brevard County Manatees. Now he's playing the hot corner for the Milwaukee Brewers and turning heads after just five months in the big leagues.

"For us, it was amazement to see him go from third base at Space Coast Stadium to third base at Miller Park in a year," Manatees GM Buck Rogers said Tuesday.

"If you look at his stats, he's got A-Rod-type numbers."

Pretty close.

Braun, who edged Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki by two points for the award, started 2007 at Triple-A Nashville. Despite missing almost two months of the major-league season -- his first game with the Brewers was May 25 -- Braun produced mind-boggling offensive numbers: a .324 batting average with 34 home runs and 97 RBIs.

What's most amazing about Braun's offensive prowess is the way in which he has achieved it. Through the minors -- and straight up through to the majors -- he has continued to get better.

In 59 games with Brevard County in 2006, Braun batted .274. He then received a promotion to Double-A Huntsville, where he batted .303. The former University of Miami star pushed his average to .342 for Nashville before getting the call to the big leagues.

And he hasn't stopped since.

Though no one could have predicted Braun would explode on the scene this quickly, his success is something the Brewers were counting on.

In May, I had the opportunity to sit down with Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who was in Brevard County for a few days as part of an organizational minor-league trip. It was two days after Braun received the call-up to Milwaukee.

"He's very talented; he can run, he's got good power and he's a very confident player," Melvin said at the time. "We expect him to have success in the big leagues."

I think it's fair to say those expectations have been met.

During our conversation about Braun, Melvin spoke of the extreme confidence -- borderline cockiness -- that seeped out of the young third baseman. In fact, Melvin said Braun had contacted him from time to time while in the minors just to make sure he wasn't being forgotten.

"Hey, I'm still down here," Braun would say to the GM. "You see the numbers I'm putting up down here? Well, I could be doing that in the big leagues, too."

Rogers recalls a time when Braun's head may have swelled a little too much.

According to the 'Tees GM, Braun missed Brevard County's team photo in 2006, which didn't sit too well with the staff or with some of his teammates. Turns out Braun got a flat tire on the way to the photo shoot, but just went to get the tire fixed instead of calling to explain his situation, or to arrange for a ride.

At the time, Rogers said, Braun didn't think it was a big deal.

While giving Braun a ride to an airport a few months later, Rogers took the opportunity to explain to him just how much of a big deal it was.

"I told him, 'You may not want to hear this, but . . . it bothered me, it bothered our staff. You gotta do things right.' "

Rogers said many things to his captive audience of one during the half-hour ride to the airport. But the main message was this: "Don't ever think you're bigger than the game."

When Rogers was done, Braun told him, "Thanks, I needed to hear that."

They shook hands, Rogers wished Braun luck, and that's the last time the two men have spoken.

Rogers still feels good about that talk, and feels even better about the recent success of his former player.

"Hopefully, he has a Hall of Fame career so some of the fans can tell their grandkids 'I remember him when he was a minor-leaguer,' " Rogers said.

"God bless him. I hope he has a long career. And I hope he never forgets his roots in Brevard County."

[billyhallfan]

that seeped out of the young third baseman. In fact, Melvin said Braun had contacted him from time to time while in the minors just to make sure he wasn't being forgotten.

 

"Hey, I'm still down here," Braun would say to the GM. "You see the numbers I'm putting up down here? Well, I could be doing that in the big leagues, too."

 

That is terrible, I hope he doesn't get to cocky, I have never heard of anyone doing that before. If I were Melvin I would have talked to him myself, and he probably did.

 

thanks for the article.

[homer]

I don't think that's terrible at all. Missing the team photo was a bigger malfeasance to me.

[PlayerHader]

Depends how it was said. I get the feeling that since Melvin chose to tell the story at all, that Braun's comments to him were more light hearted than disrespectful.