Ryan Braun and Jonathan Villar finished up their rehab assignments with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Fox Cities Stadium Sunday. The Rattlers topped the Kane County Cougars 3-2, the team's second straight victory to open the second half of the Midwest League season.
Both Braun and Villar are expected to rejoin the Brewers for this week's series at the Cincinatti Reds.
Their arrival to the T-Rats' clubhouse and the team's success on the field aren't a coincidence, according to first baseman Ronnie Gideon. His solo home run Sunday got the Timber Rattlers on the board in the second inning, and he credits his approach at the plate for that shot to a conversation he had with Braun earlier in the week.
"It's actually something that me and Braun talked about: We talked about seeing your pitch elevated and not missing it," Gideon said. "(I'm trying to) pull in as much information as you can and learn from the best and see what they have to give you.
"It's a big impact here because for one, the energy is higher, everybody's happy to be here, everybody's happy to be around them and asking questions about hitting, defense, whatever it is. And I feel like it helps us out a lot."
"Jonathan and Ryan have been outstanding," said manager Matt Erickson. "They've been good on the field, but they've been even better off the field. Their personalities are top-notch, and I'm glad to see them both healthy. I'm glad to see them both play well."
Braun finished 2-for-8 with a home run on Saturday and two RBI through three games with Wisconsin. Villar went 8-for-13 with six RBI in four games.
"This was a lot of fun. I think first and foremost, stadium is beautiful, facility is beautiful, and everybody's been so accommodating," Braun said Sunday. "It was fun just getting an opportunity to talk to some of the young guys, and just see those guys on the start of pursuing the dream. I had a lot of good conversations with a lot of guys. They're asking a lot of good questions. Hopefully I was able to help some of them out along the way, so it was fun, a fun three days."
Braun, who was put on the disabled list May 26, was making the first rehab assignment of his career, and Villar was finishing up a bout on the disabled list after injuring his back June 10.
