Rodgers at Brewers’ camp
Published 2:04 am Thursday, March 1, 2012
PHOENIX (AP) — Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers showed he can catch, too, making a routine grab in the outfield during the Milwaukee Brewers’ workout Wednesday.
The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player spent a few minutes shagging balls in the outfield on a practice field, catching the only ball he had a chance to make a play on.
“One for one,” Rodgers said. “Real comfortable out there.”
Wearing jeans, a T-shirt, hat and sunglasses, Rodgers stopped by the Brewers’ Maryvale complex to shoot promotional commercials for the baseball team. He later took the mound in full uniform — naturally, wearing No. 12 — to film the spots.
“I had a lot of fun,” Rodgers said
Rodgers spent most of his time watching batting practice and chatting with friend Ryan Braun, the Milwaukee slugger whose urine tested positive in October for elevated testosterone. Rodgers has steadfastly defended Braun, saying on Twitter that Major League Baseball “tried to sully the reputation of an innocent man.”
Braun was asked if it was fun to have Rodgers visit.
“Yes, it was,” Braun said.
Braun’s 50-game suspension was overturned by baseball arbitrator Shyam Das, the first time a player has successfully challenged a drug-related penalty in a grievance with Major League Baseball. Braun was the National League MVP last season.
On Tuesday, the person who collected Braun’s urine sample said he followed the collection program’s protocol. Dino Laurenzi Jr. issued a statement confirming he handled the sample submitted following a playoff game on Oct. 1.
He said he has been a collector for Comprehensive Drug Testing since 2005 and has taken more than 600 samples for baseball’s drug-testing program.
“At no point did I tamper in any way with the samples,” Laurenzi said.
Brewers general manager Doug Melvin issued a statement Wednesday.
“There’s nothing else that we can comment on,” Melvin said. “We live with the decision that was made. I don’t know enough about the details. I’m sure it’s going to be a continuing story, at some point, but, our focus is to play baseball and get ready for the season.”
The Brewers will open exhibition play Sunday against San Francisco.