Many baseball fans remember when Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun verbally attacked Dino Laurenzi Jr.—the urine sample collector whose error allowed Braun to complete a successful suspension appeal in 2012. However, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney reported Sunday, citing sources, this was not the first time Braun purposefully spoke ill of Laurenzi Jr. to others.
This season Braun was suspended for his connection to the Biogenesis clinic in Florida. Last season MLB also handed down a suspension for Braun due to alleged P.E.D. use. However—even though he eventually won the appeal— the Brewers outfielder was not convinced his appeal would go through. Therefore he attempted to garner the support of veteran players.
According to Olney, sources say Braun called veteran major leaguers and offered some info on Laurenzi to get the support including:
--Braun was told Laurenzi was an anti-Semite, implying he disliked Braun because the Brewers slugger is Jewish
--The collector was a Chicago Cubs fan, implying he was going after Braun because the Brewers and Cubs are in the same division.
When the MLB offered a deal to Braun this time around, he took it and did not fight the suspension. A statement was released by an individual close to Braun according to Olney:
“Ryan isn't currently commenting on anything -- rumor or reality -- related to his arbitration process or his suspension. “He has acknowledged his mistakes, accepted his punishment, and is beginning to make amends and will comment at an appropriate time.”
The 2011 National League MVP will sit out the rest of the 2013 season. He may speak publicly about the situation as soon as Monday.
Braun’s appeal victory in 2012 made him the first player to win an appeal in MLB history.
