Notes: 10 years and counting for Ryan Braun since he made his debut with the Brewers

Thursday marked the 10-year anniversary of Ryan Braun making his debut with the Brewers in a game in San Diego. Since that day, he ranked fourth in the majors with 2,909 total bases, fifth with 658 extra-base hits and 956 RBI, sixth with 898 runs scored, seventh with 292 homers and ninth with 1,624 hits.

Braun said the 10 years went by more quickly than he could have imagined.

“It always does,” he said. “Relative to everything else in life, it goes by fast. You try to stay in the moment and enjoy it, and embrace the celebratory moments in the game, and recognize it does fly by. It feels like it’s been three or four (years).”

As for the best moment of his 10 years with the club, Braun said, “I would say a few. Both postseasons (2008 and 2011) stand out. That’s the goal every year, to get to the postseason. I obviously haven’t experienced it anywhere else but I understood how significant it was here because it had been so long since we went to the playoffs.

“Seeing what it meant to the fans and hearing stories from fans about how long it had been since they had an opportunity to witness the Brewers going to the postseason was really special. Winning the division in ’11 and going back to the postseason was really special.

“And, personally, just the debut. I think, for every player, it’s such a special moment. It sounds like a cliché but you’re having the opportunity to physically live out one of your dreams. And you think about all the work that goes into it, playing Little League, high school, making it to college, getting drafted and working your way up the ladder of each minor-league level.”

Unfortunately for Braun, he did not make it through the entire game against Arizona on his anniversary. He exited in the fourth inning with left calf tightness, a residual effect of an ailment that put him on the DL earlier. 

Braun has three years remaining on his contract after this season and it was well documented that he was nearly traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. As a “10 and 5” player (10 years in the majors, at least the last five with the same club), he now has full veto power over any trade and thinks a move is unlikely.

“It’s more likely than not that I do finish my career here," he said.

Brewers manager Craig Counsell, who played some 15 years in the majors but with five teams, including the Brewers, said it is significant that Braun has worn just one uniform.

“Ten years with one team, that’s what is rare," Counsell said. "That’s what he should be proud of. It happens so infrequently, the way the game works these days.

"He is a great player for this organization. He stepped into the big leagues and has been an offensive force from the day he stepped in. It happened immediately."

Sticking with it: There was no eureka moment that got Domingo Santana going at the plate a little over three weeks ago.

“I just trusted the process and continued with my routine and my work,” the Brewers rightfielder said. “I just kept doing the same thing, same routine and it all worked out.”

Yes, it did. Entering the series opener against Arizona at Miller Park, Santana was batting .356 (26 for 73) with four home runs and 17 runs batted in over his previous 22 games. It was a dramatic turnaround from his first 21 games, when he batted .169 (11 for 65) with two homers and five RBI.

As with all players, whether adjustments are made or not, a prolonged hot streak does wonders for one’s confidence, and that certainly has been the case with Santana.

“Especially at this level, when you have some success, it makes you feel good about yourself,” he said. “And it makes you feel happy because you’re helping the team. That’s what we’re here for.”

Counsell recalled some hard outs that Santana hit into during those opening weeks and said it merely was a matter of time before some hits started falling.

“I thought Domingo was swinging really good at the start. He just had really bad luck the first couple of weeks,” Counsell said. “The big thing, for me, is that he’s taking a little bit of the next step and maturing as a hitter.

“His strikeouts are creeping down. His walks are creeping up. That means he’s making better decisions with balls and strikes. That’s ultimately what’s going to make you a better hitter. What he has gradually done since Day 1 in the big leagues is he has improved.

“It hasn’t been a big leap or rapid thing. He has done it gradually, steadily as he has gotten into his career.”

Full strength: Counsell was asked about the expected lift of Junior Guerra returning to the starting rotation Friday. Guerra has been sidelined since straining his right calf three innings into his opening-day start.

“I think Junior taking his turn every five days is important for us,” Counsell said. “This is a guy that pitched very well for us last year (9-3, 2.81 in 20 starts). That’s a boost. I think Junior has something to go out there and prove again, too.”