Why Ryan Braun Is the Best Right Fielder in Baseball

COMMENTARY | The Milwaukee Brewers' offseason has been the dullest form of dull, but at least Ryan Braun has been out of the spotlight.

Milwaukee is the only team in Major League Baseball that has yet to sign a free agent to a big league deal, and members of their fanbase are seriously debating amongst each other about who should start at first base between Juan Francisco, Sean Halton and Hunter Morris.

In case you didn't notice, first base remains an issue in Milwaukee.

However, the Brewers did execute a couple of trades, one of which led directly to the aforementioned Braun making the switch to right field. While we could also make the argument that Braun is the best left fielder in baseball, we can do the same for Braun in right -- here are five reasons why:

He's a former MVP
Among current MLB players that play right field, Ryan Braun is one of just three to win an MVP Award. The others are Ichiro, who can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and Josh Hamilton, who took a big step back in performance last season and plans to move back to left field in 2014.

Braun is still elite without PEDs
This facet remains a bit blurry, but what we know for sure is that Braun used performance-enhancing drugs during the 2011 season to help battle injury. There's no telling if Braun used PEDs again in 2012 and beyond, or at any point prior to 2011. But the 30-year-old still went on to have an MVP-caliber season in 2012 sans PEDs -- allegedly.

One would think Braun would be more careful following his positive test toward the end of the 2011 season, but who knows? We just know that Braun still managed to perform at a high level.

His all-around game
Remember when Braun played third base during his rookie season? Well, maybe you blocked that from memory, because it wasn't pretty. But ever since Braun moved to the outfield, his defense has become a strength rather than a liability.

We're not saying that Braun's defense is Gold Glove material, but he has a serviceable glove to go along with plus speed and the ability to hit for average and power, giving him a skill set that not many can match in baseball.

The clutch gene
Again, we can't be sure how much PEDs have boosted Braun's performance over the years, but one thing is for sure -- he isn't fazed by the spotlight. Braun comes through when it matters most.

He's the guy who put the Brewers in the playoffs back in 2008 with a 2-run home run on the final day of the regular season. He also wrapped up the NL Central in 2011 with another long ball. Those are just a few examples of Braun's ability to swing a game with one swing of the bat.

On top of being a great player, Braun also has the clutch gene, something that can't be undersold.

The competition
When it comes down to it, there isn't anyone besides Braun that can make a stronger case for being the best right fielder in baseball.

There is up-and-coming talent like Giancarlo Stanton, Yasiel Puig and Wil Myers, and mainstays like Hamilton, Carlos Beltran and Jay Bruce. Those first three names may soon be battling it out for the supreme right fielder in the game. But, for now, the crown belongs to Braun, who is in his prime and currently the best right fielder in baseball.


(sports.yahoo.com)