Brewers embrace Ryan Braun’s admission

CINCINNATI — Brewers players are glad that Ryan Braun has acknowledged he took performance-enhancing substances that resulted in his 65-game suspension by Major League Baseball.

His teammates think it’s a good step to explain when he used banned substances. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy calls it “was a good first step on the road to redemption.”

Braun released his statement Thursday night while the Brewers were on their way to Cincinnati to open a weekend series. Players wanted time to read the statement before reacting.

Reliever John Axford says he’s willing to forgive Braun and move on. Braun has talked with some of the Brewers by phone since he agreed to the suspension on June 22. Axford thinks Braun will be accepted in the clubhouse when he returns.