Coming off one of his worst Major League seasons of his career, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun is set to undergo thumb surgery this upcoming Thursday. He has had a thumb issue over time and it had been taking away his power throughout the season. The team hopes this was the primary reason behind the decline of Braun.
"If I was relatively healthy, if I was performing up to the standard I set for myself, then we'd be in a different place as a team. It makes it that much more difficult for me personally to accept the way the season went," Braun said.
His end of season numbers, were among the worst of his career in every statical category. Braun batted just .268 on the year with 19 home runs and 81 RBIs. Sometimes, he looked more like a pull hitting left-handed hitter than a power hitting righty. The 30-year-old has played in 135 games this season.
There is no timetable return for his type of injury.
"The whole reason we hadn't done it sooner was because there isn't a lot of experience in doing this specific surgery that I'm getting done," he said.
Obviously, Braun has a main goal of returning to the 2015 season with full health. The 2011 National League MVP wants to be the .306/.368/.550 career hitter that he has been in the past. Braun has also blasted 230 homers in his career. Over 162 games, he would average 35 home runs, 114 RBI's and 195 hits based on his career numbers.
"I don't think we were that far off. If we get back to that, we still have a really nice player," manager Ron Roenicke said before Sunday's loss. "But we do need to get back to that. ... I think he feels like if he can get this thumb issue behind him, he can be that same player again."