Ryan Braun named the Budweiser Presents National League Player of the Month for April

Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun has been voted the Budweiser Presents National League Player of the Month for April. Budweiser, the official beer sponsor of Major League Baseball and sponsor for 24 of 30 MLB clubs, is also the presenting sponsor of the National League and American League Player of the Month Awards.

Through the first month of the 2011 season (including one game played on March 31st), Braun batted .367 (36-for-98) and was tied for the National League lead in both home runs (10) and runs scored (24). His 36 hits and .724 slugging percentage ranked second in the N.L. while his 23 RBI were good for third. The 27-year-old also added a .457 on-base percentage with three doubles, a triple and three stolen bases. The Brewers' first-round selection in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft began his 2011 campaign with a bang, going 2-for-3 with a home run and three runs scored in Milwaukee's Opening Day loss at Cincinnati on March 31st. The University of Miami product drove in the only run scored in the Brew Crew's first win of the season on April 5th over the visiting Braves. On April 18th, Braun's 3-for-4, two- RBI performance propelled the Brewers to an extra-inning victory at Philadelphia. Braun's sacrifice fly in the top of the 12th inning drove in what proved to be the decisive tally in the Brewers' 6-3 win over the Phils. That sparked a torrid week for the California native, in which he batted .480 (12-for-25) with three homers and nine RBI, garnering N.L. Player of the Week honors for the period of April 18th-25th. The three-time N.L. All-Star has now reached base safely in 28 consecutive games to begin the season after eclipsing the franchise record previously held by Robin Yount (23 games in 1983). Braun's 10 home runs are currently second in the Majors and he is tied for second with 24 runs scored. This is his third monthly honor, having won previously for the months of July 2007 and July 2008.

Other players receiving votes were Cardinals right fielder Lance Berkman, who batted .367 (35-for-89) with eight home runs, 22 RBI, 23 runs scored and eight doubles; Braun's teammate Prince Fielder, whose 26 RBI were second-most among National Leaguers; Dodgers outfielders Andre Ethier, who had 41 hits during the month and currently owns a 28-game hitting streak, and Matt Kemp, who hit .368 (29-for-106) on the month with eight stolen bases; and Phillies infielder Placido Polanco, who batted .398 (41-for-103) with seven doubles and 19 RBI.

The Budweiser Presents National League Player of the Month, Ryan Braun, will receive a specially designed trophy, suitably engraved, in recognition of his accomplishment.



(mlb.com)