Ryan Braun seems to be taking steps in the right direction.
The disgraced Brewers outfielder finally issued a public apology after Major League Baseball suspended him for 65 games for using performance-enhancing drugs. Now, Braun is personally reaching out to some of the Brewers’ most loyal fans to apologize, according to CBS 58 in Milwaukee.
Pat Guenther said he thought someone was pulling his chain when he answered the phone and Braun was on the other end of the line.
“‘Hey Pat, this is Ryan Braun,'” Guenther recalled. “Right then and there I knew it was his voice based on interviews I’ve seen on TV. I knew damn well it was his voice.”
Guenther owns Kelly’s Bleachers, a popular hangout for Brewers fans, and he’s been a season ticket holder for the last 20 years. Once he had Braun on the line, Guenther said he did what anyone in the service industry would do: he asked how he could help Braun.
“He said, ‘I messed up, in a nutshell, I messed up. I just want to reach out and say I’m sorry,'” Guenther told CBS 58. “I cut him off right there. I said you know Ryan, I think you’re an amazing athlete and this speaks volumes to your character to reach out to a small business owner like myself and let us know that you are going to do better.
“He was very humble on the phone. He wanted to reach out and for him to do this is an act of kindness. He wants the people of Wisconsin to support the Brewers and him.”
The Brewers confirmed to CBS 58 that the team provided Braun with contact information for some season ticket holders at his request.
