At one time there was reason to doubt Ryan Braun would ever regain his All-Star reputation. Well, he's back.
For the first time since serving a 2013 suspension for steroid use, the Brewers outfielder was named to the National League All-Star team on Sunday, replacing injured Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday.
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Dodgers rookie Joc Pederson will be elevated to fill Holliday's void in the starting lineup. Holliday, selected to his seventh All-Star Game by fan vote, has been sidelined since June 8 with a quadriceps injury and elected to sit out All-Star Weekend to recover.
Braun, the 2011 NL MVP, is making his sixth All-Star appearance. But it's his first since a 65-game suspension cut short his 2013 season, the result of Braun's connection with the Biogenesis scandal.
Braun has 16 home runs and 55 RBIs so far this season and is hitting .272. He had 19 homers and 81 RBIs all of last season.
Pederson entered Sunday batting .230 with 20 home runs and 40 RBIs.
