Ryan Braun’s Hall of Fame bid has officially ended after just one year on the ballot. The longtime Milwaukee Brewers slugger received only 3.5% of the vote from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, falling short of the 5% threshold needed to remain in future consideration. That puts a quick end to what was always going to be a complicated candidacy.
Braun’s name was checked on just 15 of 425 ballots, a strikingly low number for a player who, at his peak, was one of the most dynamic hitters in the game. He joins a list of first-time candidates who didn’t make the cut, including former Brewers pitcher Gio González, who received zero votes.
To be clear, Braun’s on-field résumé is substantial. He was a six-time All-Star, won the 2007 Rookie of the Year award, and took home National League MVP honors in 2011.
He’s the Brewers’ all-time leader in home runs (352) and ranks top-three in nearly every major offensive category in franchise history: second in RBIs and doubles, third in runs, hits, slugging percentage, total bases, triples, and stolen bases. His impact in Milwaukee is undeniable.
But Hall of Fame voting isn’t just about numbers-it’s about legacy. And that’s where Braun’s case gets murky.
His 2013 suspension for performance-enhancing drug use, along with his widely publicized denial before eventually admitting guilt, has cast a long shadow over his career. He now finds himself in the same Hall of Fame purgatory as other PED-linked stars like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens-players with undeniable stats, but reputations that have made voters hesitant to punch their ticket to Cooperstown.
There is still a theoretical path forward for Braun through the Era Committee vote, which evaluates players from the “contemporary” era (1980 to the present). That group will meet again in late 2028. But let’s be honest-that’s a longshot, and the bar for that process is just as high, if not higher, for players with off-field baggage.
Meanwhile, another former Brewer, closer Francisco Rodríguez, continues to hang around the ballot. “K-Rod” received 11.8% of the vote this year, up slightly from 10.2% last year and 7.8% in his debut. While those numbers are still far from the 75% needed for induction, the upward trend keeps him in the conversation for at least another year.
Rodríguez’s case is interesting. He had a 2.91 ERA over 263 appearances with Milwaukee and was a key piece of the 2011 team that reached the NLCS.
He also made All-Star appearances in 2014 and 2015 with the Brewers. But most fans remember him best for his electric early years with the Angels, including a record-setting 62-save season in 2008.
Gio González, another former Brewer, had a brief but solid run in Milwaukee, posting a 3.20 ERA over 24 appearances in 2019 after a late-season stint in 2018. Still, his career lacked the longevity or accolades to garner serious Hall of Fame traction, and the zero-vote result reflects that.
Looking ahead, the Brewers likely won’t have any new faces on the 2027 ballot. But 2028 could be more interesting, with longtime center fielder Lorenzo Cain becoming eligible, along with short-term Brewers like Brock Holt and Stephen Vogt. The 2029 class could feature some bigger names with Brewers ties-Nelson Cruz, Zack Greinke, Josh Donaldson, Mike Moustakas, Jean Segura, and even former Brewers minor-leaguer Michael Brantley.
For now, though, the Hall of Fame door has closed on Ryan Braun. His legacy in Milwaukee is secure-he’s already been enshrined in the Brewers Walk of Fame-but Cooperstown won’t be calling anytime soon.