Former Manatee Ryan Braun named 2011 NL MVP

The Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) announced on Tuesday that former Brevard County Manatee and current Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun was named the 2011 National League Most Valuable Player.

Braun is the Brewers' first MVP award winner since Robin Yount won the 1989 American League MVP. It marks the fourth time that a Brewer has won the MVP award.

He is also the third former Manatee to win a MVP award, joining Andre Dawson (1987 NL) and Vladimir Guerrero (2004 AL).

Braun led the National League with a .597 slugging percentage, a .994 on-base plus slugging percentage and 77 extra base hits. He also led all Major League left fielders with a .996 fielding percentage.

He finished in the top 10 of nine other offensive categories. Braun was second in the National League in batting average (.332), runs scored (109) and total bases (336).

Braun was fourth in the NL with 111 runs batted in and tied for fourth with 38 doubles. His was fifth in the league in both on-base percentage (.397) and hits (187).

His 33 home runs tied him for sixth in the league and his 33 stolen bases tied him for seventh in the National League. Braun became the second player in Brewers history to join the 30-30 club in 2011.

In 2011, Braun started in his fourth straight All-Star game and won his fourth straight Silver Slugger award.

He is the first Brewer to post three 100-run, 100-RBI seasons. Braun is also one of three Brewers who have had four 100-RBI seasons, joining Cecil Cooper and Prince Fielder.

Braun played in 59 games for the Manatees in the first half of the 2006 season and was selected to the 2006 Florida State League All-Star Game. He hit .274 with seven home runs and 37 RBI.

Braun, 28, was drafted by the Brewers fifth overall in the 2005 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Miami.

For more information on the Brevard County Manatees, visit ManateesBaseball.com or call (321) 633-9200.