Ryan Braun Speaks Ahead Of Season Opener

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun has kept to himself this spring training. While fans have either loved or hated him since his charge of using a banned substance was overturned, Braun has rarely spoke to the media.

But on the day before the Brewers season opener at Miller Park, Braun sat down with Big 12 Sports' Dario Melendez.

Braun said that he was frustrated with the offseason.

"To be completely honest with you, I went through the whole process," Braun said of his battle with Major League Baseball. "I didn't enjoy it in any way."

But he was quick to credit Brewer fans for helping him through one of the most challenging experiences of his life.

"It meant the world, it really did. It was an extremely difficult situation, but having everyone's support was truly meaningful to me and really meant a lot," Braun said.

Braun's drug test was overturned due to inconsistencies in how the sample was handled before it arrived at the laboratory. Braun maintained his innocence throughout.

"Like I stated from the beginning, I never thought about it, considered it or gave any thought to doing something like that," he said.

As for his speech in Maryvale after the decision was announced, Braun said he spoke largely off the cuff.

"Honestly, I didn't know what I was going to say," he said. "The only things I had written down were the things I wasn't allowed to talk about."

Melendez asked Braun if he is excited to be playing in front of the home crowd a little more this year because of some of the booing he dealt with in Arizona.

"I kind of look forward to that. I don't know. It's motivating. I'm excited to have an opportunity to obviously to play here in front of our fans and to play on the road. T be in that atmosphere and that environment, that motivates me," Braun said.


(wisn.com)