Meet Ryan Braun
by Tracy Gale
Feb. 10, 2004
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – Ryan Braun was a city champ in the baseball-rich greater Los Angeles area. A three-time team MVP at Granada Hills High School, Braun was offered scholarships to prestigious California schools like Stanford and UC-Berkeley. Both have top-flight baseball programs, and are among the most prestigious universities in the country. So how did California high school all-star Ryan Braun end up a University of Miami Hurricane?
“It was the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make,” Ryan says. “I was considering Stanford, Cal and Georgia Tech, too. But Miami had the best fit for me: I’d be playing in the greatest college baseball program and get my education from a prestigious private university. Overall, even though I am 3,000 miles from home, UM had the combination of academics and athletics that I wanted, so the choice was Miami.”
Braun isn’t just paying lip service when he mentions academics. His current 3.35 GPA and honor roll status attest to that. But baseball is the dream and his dream brought him to Coral Gables.
“I didn’t grow up dreaming of playing college baseball. Like every little kid I dreamed of making the big leagues,” Braun continues. “I do remember that the first College World Series I watched on television was the ’96 series, when Miami lost to LSU on the homerun by the guy who hadn’t hit one all year. I followed UCLA and USC because they were the hometown programs, but my dream has always been to make the major leagues.”
Braun says growing up it was always baseball. He says the two things that defined his childhood were baseball and school-his parents stressed his grades and academic performance and praised his scholastic accomplishments more than his baseball ones. Ryan used to pitch in addition to playing shortstop, but the pitching ended after his sophomore year in high school. Despite his incredible success in such a competitive high school baseball environment, Braun was not taken in the 2002 amateur baseball draft. He headed for UM.
Few in the history of the Hurricanes baseball program have had as tremendous a freshman year as Braun. His numbers speak for themselves: Braun started 62 of UM’s 63 games and hit a robust .364. He also led the team in hits and total bases. On the way to home run title, team MVP honors, Rookie of the Year and national collegiate baseball awards, Braun smashed the freshman RBI record – held by former overall #1 pick Pat Burrell – by 12 runs. Still, when asked to assess his freshman year, Braun says he didn’t meet any of his goals.
“Numbers keep you motivated. I didn’t accomplish any of the numbers I had in my mind for last year-I have very lofty goals for myself and for what I can do to help the team win. And by winning I mean winning it all.”
It isn’t surprising to hear Braun say that his favorite major leaguer is Alex Rodriguez. The Texas Rangers shortstop is always on the short list for major league MVP honors and at or near the top when it comes to batting average, home runs and RBIs. But Braun admires A-Rod for more than just what he does on the field. Playing and going to school at the University of Miami has given Braun a chance to see a lot of big leaguers in the off-season. And what he has seen of A-Rod impresses the heck out of him.
“Alex Rodriguez amazes me. His off-season workouts are so intense. The guy stills works out like he hasn’t made the big leagues yet! That motivates me to work harder. Also, he is such a great person, he does so much for other people.
Seeing A-Rod and many other major leaguers down here is a great inspiration. Former Hurricanes come down in the fall and work out at Mark Light all the time. We see them in the weight room, we see them in the [batting] cages and they’ll give us pointers. Sometimes we see them out on the town, too. It’s just awesome.”
Judging by his comments on players he admires-Braun mentions major league players’ strong work habits as the trait he admires most-it won’t come as a shock to Hurricane fans that Braun spends a lot of time in the weight room. So much so that Coach Morris wants him to cut down on some of his conditioning work. That will be hard for the driven Braun to do. He hurt his elbow during fall baseball, an injury he says has healed 85% of the way. To keep from re-injuring it and be 100% for the season opener, Braun cut down on his upper body work.
“It is so important to condition yourself, physically and mentally. I need to improve in all aspects of my game, I really do. Every major league player has gotten there by working hard.”
Before there is a chance to play in the major leagues there is the 2004 Hurricanes baseball season, which opens February 13th at Mark Light. Ryan’s evaluation of the team and its chances for Omaha should excite even the most casual of fans.
“We are 10 times better than we were last year-really! Our pitching is the reason, because last year we had a thin bullpen. The experience of the staff is so much deeper now and of course we return everybody. Having all of the starters back-you know, we’re bigger and better than last year, and I think we are hungrier. After losing last year you have to put things in perspective. ‘Here’s how far we have to go and here is what we have to do together to get there.’ This kind of stuff can definitely make you bond really tight with your teammates and we are-we are a very close team.”
After living on campus freshman year, Ryan now shares an apartment with fellow sophomore Cesar Carrillo. Sophomore pitcher Chiqui Chirino, who is from Hialeah, seems to have taken up residence in the apartment, too.
“I think he lives on our couch.”
Braun is one of four Californians on the Hurricanes roster. He says he loves the Florida weather because it never gets too cold; he loves the girls, the nightlife and the college baseball fans.
“Back in Los Angeles, a big crowd for a UCLA game might be 1,000 people. We average what, over 3,000 a game? And the people here are much more into it than they are in Southern California.”
Far and away though for Ryan, the best thing about being a Miami Hurricane is the close friendships and bond he has with his teammates.
“All we want to do is win the title. Everything that we go through together happens for a reason. Not winning last year has been the incentive for this year, from fall practice until now. The fact that we didn’t win it all last year is the key to our advantage over teams this year. I know we can do it in 2004.”
Ryan Braun on…The Hurricane Hotseat
Favorite UM Class and why: Philosophy 130-Contemporary Moral Issues. I like it so much because we talk about real, every day issues. It isn’t theory stuff, it’s stuff you deal with. And the professor is great.
Favorite food? Filet Mignon-medium well, please!
Dream Date? Pamela Anderson.
Finish this sentence: ‘If I was appointed major league baseball’s commissioner I would…’ change absolutely nothing. I’d leave the game alone. It has integrity. Don’t mess with it.
Pete Rose-in the Hall or no? Definitely IN. The place is called the Baseball Hall of Fame for a reason and what he accomplished on the field is amazing.
The last CD I listened to was: G-Unit by 50 Cent.
The major league player I most admire is: Alex Rodriguez. Second would be Nomar Garciaparra.
The best thing about living in California vs. living in Florida is: the girls and living with less humidity.
The best thing Florida has over California: warmer weather.
When I am not practicing, working out or playing baseball I like to: hang out with the guys on the team. We go to the beach or enjoy Miami’s nightlife.
If I won the Lotto tonight the first thing I would buy is: a new house and new cars for both my mom and my dad.
My all time favorite movie is: Top Gun.
If I could hit against anyone from the history of baseball, I would like to take my cuts against: Cy Young.
Once my baseball career is over I will probably: do something in sports, maybe sports broadcasting or some type of GM position.
