Thanks to some of my MLB.com colleagues for passing along reaction from around the league to Ryan Braun, who won his appeal of a drug suspension on Thursday:

Cardinals first baseman Lance Berkman: “My stance on the whole issue is that Major League Baseball needs to do everything it can to eliminate the performance enhancing drug piece of the puzzle. I think the testing that we have in place now is very stringent. I think it’s a good system. Beyond that, I’m glad there’s testing in place. I’m glad that if Ryan was indeed falsely accused that he’s been exonerated. …

“If he got off on a technicality then I’m not in favor of it. But if he truly didn’t do it, I don’t want him to have his name drug through the mud over it. I don’t know enough of the particulars. There have been people who have gotten off in our judicial system that there has been a high degree of suspicion because there was some technical procedure of the law that was violated. It happens. I’m not saying that it happened in this case, I’m just saying it has happened in our judicial system. It’s not inconceivable that the same could happen in this case. But again, if he’s innocent, I don’t want any stigma attached to what he’s been able to do because he’s a tremendous player.”

Cards outfielder Jon Jay (who played with Braun at Miami): ”It’s good for him. He’s one of the up-and-coming young guys who has established himself and had a great year last year. I’m happy for him.

“I spoke to him and congratulated him. I know it’s been a tough situation to deal with for him. I know the type of guy he is, and he has helped me out so much in my career. He’s definitely a guy I always look up to as a mentor.”

Cards manager Mike Matheny: “If I were in his shoes and I were innocent, I would sure want justice to prevail. I’m sure everybody went through the proper chains to make sure that justice was done and the right thing came about.

You look at that lineup without he and Prince [Fielder] in it and it certainly looks different. You put him back in there and he is an MVP player. It certainly helps Milwaukee.”

Angels reliever LaTroy Hawkins: “My reaction? Cool. Good for them. He just changed the landscape of that division. Him being out 50 games, that wouldn’t have been good for them. But he’s back, so, hey, I don’t know what happened.

“It had to be tough, but you know what, to me personally, you have to find the leak, because it shouldn’t have come out. It’s not part of the agreement. Find the leak. Find the leak. There’s nothing you can do about it now. The perception is already there, and in our society, you’re already guilty before being proven innocent. That’s just the way it is, in all walks of life.”

Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez (another former Miami teammate): ”If there was guilt, he’d be guilty. There is just so many things that go on in a case, when you actually see it and you actually talk to somebody who is there. I talk to him about everything. I talk to him about a lot of things. And there are just a lot of things that didn’t make sense. He got off. He was proven innocent. That’s all we can say.

“We’ve been best friends for 10 years now. It’s a lot different when you’re talking about those situations, knowing somebody that well, and knowing what kind of person he is, and what kind of personality he is. And knowing, he never had to lie. From the very beginning, he told me, ‘I didn’t do anything.’ So you kind of pull for him.

“I believe him 100 percent when he told me that he didn’t do it. I believe you. There is no reason for you to have to lie to me. I felt like it was great news yesterday, when it came out that he was innocent and able to play.”

Pirates third baseman Casey McGehee: “I wasn’t shocked. All the time I’ve known him, I found Ryan to be very honest and open about everything. And all along he said he would be exonerated. Everyone was in such a hurry to condemn him, so I think a lot of people owe Ryan an apology. I consider him a good friend, and I’m happy for him. …

“There will still be people saying he got off on a technicality, but there are only three people (the panel) who heard all the facts and came up with a majority decision, and we have to move on. It’s good for baseball, too. One of the best players in the league will be on the field, able to do his job.”

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Ryan Braun reported to Maryvale Baseball Park just after 9:30 a.m. MT on Friday, a day after he was cleared of a 50-game suspension. Manager Ron Roenicke and Brewers coaches vacated the clubhouse a few minutes later so Braun could address his teammates.

“With the outcome of it, I don’t really think he needed to explain anything, but he wanted to, and I think the players probably appreciated that he did,” Roencike said. “I thought it was great that he did.”

Asked what the decision means for the team, Roenicke said, “We’re a lot better. That’s what it comes down to. This is not just a great player, but this is a guy we need in our clubhouse and in our locker room.”

Roenicke said he’d already spoken with Braun about the season ahead, which is sure to include some challenges as the Brewers travel around the country. Multiple reports have said Braun won his appeal by challenging the testing procedure itself, prompting a separate debate in the wake of the ruling about the degree of Braun’s innocence.

Braun was scheduled to address reporters at 11 a.m. MT.

“This is a very confident guy … and if you put pressure on him, I think it helps him,” Roenicke said. “Sometimes that added incentive really pumps a guy up, and sometimes it gives him pressure. I don’t think Ryan feels more pressure in those situations, which is huge when you come off the season he had, for one, and then all the controversy this offseason. For him, I think it motivates him.”

Roenicke argued that despite winning his appeal, Braun paid a price this winter.

“Coming off a great season with the team and what we accomplished, being the MVP, this probably should have been his best offseason ever,” Roenicke said. “And it wasn’t.”

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While we wait for Ryan Braun to arrive at Maryvale Baseball Park, here’s what Francisco Rodriguez had to say upon reporting to camp:

“I’m excited,” he said. “It’s a new chapter in my life. I’m looking forward to once again being back there on the field.”

Is he surprised to be back?

“No,” Rodriguez insisted. “A lot of people were shocked and surprised, but for me, no. I had a really great experience last year in Milwaukee. The organization opened [its] arms to me for three and a half months and made me feel so special. The fans, the way they treated my family. I liked the city. That was something that I was looking for, so my decision was a lot easier when I had to make it.”

It was suggested that people were surprised because they assumed Rodriguez would seek a closer’s job, rather than accept arbitration and return as the Brewers’ setup man.

“We tried. I tried. I definitely tried,” he said. “We had a couple of options, but I’ve been in this situation and it’s not about money-wise. It’s about feeling comfortable and being happy, where you want to be.”

Asked whether he will be happy as a set-up man this year, K-Rod said, “Of course. Definitely. Last year was different, a situation where we didn’t know what was going to happen. I didn’t know what to expect. This year, the mentality, the preparation is going to come as a set-up [man], and hopefully in the future I’ll get the opportunity to close again.”

Rodriguez declined to say much about his dispute with his former agents, whom he contends failed to file a no-trade list as part of his previous contract with the Mets. He said he included the Brewers on that list because Trevor Hoffman was the closer at the time. That oversight, Rodriguez contends, allowed New York to trade him to Milwaukee in the first place, essentially costing K-Rod his closer’s role.

But he made clear Friday that he has no beef with the Brewers. Rodriguez said he reported later than the rest of the pitchers because he had personal issues to tend to in Venezuela.

“I’m really honored and happy to be here, trust me,” he said. “If I didn’t feel happy last year … I would have gone our separate ways.”

On the Braun front, Rodriguez said, “I’m excited for him. He can now explain to the world what exactly happened. I’m feeling good for him.”

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I’ve been talking to some of Ryan Braun’s teammates about news that he’s been spared a suspension and particularly interesting was left-hander Chris Narveson, the Brewers union representative. He was playing golf with fellow starting pitchers Yovani Gallardo, Randy Wolf and Shaun Marcum when he got the news.

“It’s huge, getting a bat like that back in your lineup,” Narveson said. “This is what we thought we were going to get all along.”

Narveson declined to address what he knew about the specifics of Braun’s defense, but dismissed the idea that a technicality settled the case. He has a particular education on MLB’s testing policies because of his work with the union.

“If somebody mishandles a sample, that’s not just a technicality, that’s an error,” Narveson said. “I don’t know all of the details so I don’t want to comment too much. Put it this way: This isn’t the first time we’ve had issues with the people [in charge of testing] in Milwaukee. There have been other issues with timing.”

He added: “I would hope it forces stricter operating procedure. I said that even before the Braun situation in Milwaukee. It’s a matter of doing things the right way. It just takes one person who has an ulterior motive to mess things up.”

Reaction from other Brewers:

Right fielder Corey Hart, who has been in touch with Braun throughout the process: “It stinks when you know a lot and can’t say a lot. It was frustrating [for Braun]. I knew the different scenarios and what actually happened, and I wanted to scream just like he does. You have to bite your tongue and wait for it, and I’m very happy it came out the way it did. He’s such an important part of our organization and our city.”

I asked Hart what this means for the Brewers’ chances in the NL Central.

“Prince was there as long as I have been, but Braun has been our best player three of the last four years,” Hart said. “He’s been the guy that carried us when we need somebody. We would have found guys to carry the load, but to actually have him for a whole year is going to make us that much more dangerous. I actually think this is going to make him that much more driven and motivated. If I were a pitcher, I would not want to face him this year.”

Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy, a vocal Braun supporter over the winter, argued that “the correct decision has been made.”

“We all expected this to happen,” Lucroy said. “I believed him the whole time. I’m glad this decision has been made and we can move on. We’ve got one of the best hitters in the world back in our lineup.”

A big winner Thursday was Brewers general manager Doug Melvin, who had gotten most of his information on Braun’s status via media reports. Because of the confidentiality built into the testing program, clubs are kept mostly in the dark.

Melvin gambled on Braun winning his case and spent on only one free agent outfielder, Japanese import Norichika Aoki. The Brewers considered others, including veterans Raul Ibanez and Hideki Matsui, but Aoki should provide much more flexibility as a defensive player and bench bat.

“We didn’t want to overreact, because we really did trust Ryan,” said Melvin, who made clear he supports MLB’s testing policy. “I know the kind of person he is, I know his work ethic, I trust him a lot. I felt that we didn’t want to go overboard with adding a lot of pieces to the ballclub. We gambled, maybe, a little bit in that regard. But we weren’t kept up to date, and as each day went on approaching positional players reporting, I was hoping that a decision would come soon.”

Braun will report to Brewers camp on Friday. The team’s first full-squad workout is Saturday.

“He might be the first one there,” Hart said.

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Statement from Ryan Braun in response to arbitration decision:

“I am very pleased and relieved by today’s decision.

“It is the first step in restoring my good name and reputation. We were able to get through this because I am innocent and the truth is on our side.

“We provided complete cooperation throughout, despite the highly unusual circumstances.

“I have been an open book, willing to share details from every aspect of my life as part of this investigation, because I have nothing to hide. I have passed over 25 drug tests in my career, including at least three in the past year.

“I would like to thank my family and friends, my teammates, the Brewers organization led by Mark Attanasio, Doug Melvin, Gord Ash and Ron Roenicke, and other players around the league who have expressed their support and our great fans in Milwaukee and around the country who stuck by me and did not rush to judgment.

“I’d also like to offer special thanks to Michael Weiner and the Players Association for believing in me since day one and to my attorneys.

“I’d like to thank my agent Nez Balelo and Terry Prince of CAA Sports and Matthew Hiltzik of Hiltzik Strategies for all of their help and counsel through the process.

“This is not just about one person, but about all current and future players, and thankfully, today the process worked.

“Despite the challenges of this adversarial process, I do appreciate the professionalism demonstrated by the Panel Chair and the Office of the Commissioner.

“As I said before, I’ve always loved and had so much respect for the game of baseball.

“Everything I’ve done in my career has been with that respect and appreciation in mind.

“I look forward to finally being able to speak to the fans and the media on Friday and then returning the focus to baseball and working with my Brewers teammates on defending our National League Central title.”

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The verdict is in for National League MVP Ryan Braun: Not guilty.

The Brewers outfielder is the first Major Leaguer ever to successfully appeal a suspected violation of MLB’s Drug Treatment and Prevention Program. The ruling, from a three-member special panel that first convened last week in New York, spares Braun a suspension that might have covered as many as 50 games, preserves his pristine reputation as a “clean” player and positions him to man left field for the Brewers on Opening Day as the team begins its defense of the National League Central crown.

“Under the Joint Drug Agreement, a player’s successful challenge to a suspension normally would not have been made public,” the Major League Baseball Players Association said in a statement. “The parties have agreed, given the particulars of this case, that an announcement is appropriate.”

Major League Baseball Executive Vice President for Labor Relations Rob Manfred issued his own statement.

“Major League Baseball considers the obligations of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program essential to the integrity of our game, our Clubs and all of the players who take the field. It has always been Major League Baseball’s position that no matter who tests positive, we will exhaust all avenues in pursuit of the appropriate discipline. We have been true to that position in every instance, because baseball fans deserve nothing less.

“As a part of our drug testing program, the Commissioner’s Office and the Players Association agreed to a neutral third party review for instances that are under dispute. While we have always respected that process, Major League Baseball vehemently disagrees with the decision rendered today by arbitrator Shyam Das.”

Das cast the deciding vote on a panel that also included Manfred and MLBPA executive director Michael Weiner.

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Soft-spoken Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks aired an uncharacteristic request Thursday about his spot in the batting order:

Anything but the five-hole.

“Anything other than five, I’m good,” Weeks said. “I feel like I’m not doing anything. You might have people [on base] in front of you, but once you drive them in, you feel like you’re stagnant. The game kind of slows down to me.

“I’m the type of person, you get on base and try to score runs. That’s my whole thing. … Being active down there, it’s kind of hard to do that.”

Weeks has spent most of his career in the leadoff hole and will tie Gorman Thomas for 10th on the Brewers’ all-time runs scored list when he next touches home plate. Weeks enters the season only 73 runs shy of sixth place on that list.

He said his ankle is about 95 percent recovered from the nasty sprain suffered last July.

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Norichika Aoki takes his first swings in a Brewers uniform during a Spring Training workout Thursday. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Japanese import Norichika Aoki reported to Maryvale Baseball Park just after 8 a.m. on Thursday and dove into a flurry of activity. There were handshakes and awkward bows from his new Brewers teammates. A brief hello from manager Ron Roenicke. Athletic trainers asking questions. Clubhouse attendants holding uniform pants, jerseys and helmets to fit.

Finally, the most unlikely of familiar faces.

“Hisashiburi ne,” said Brewers right-hander Frankie De La Cruz.

Long time, no see!

De La Cruz and Aoki were teammates in 2010 with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, and are now reunited with the Brewers as Aoki begins a new chapter in his career. He’s was three-time batting champion in Japan, a six-time Gold Glover, a star, but now he’s fulfilling a dream by starting over in the U.S.

“I actually feel like a rookie again,” Aoki said.

He spoke through interpreter Kosuke Inaji, who returns to Milwaukee after working alongside reliever Takashi Saito last season. Saito, who has since signed with the D-backs, offered Aoki positive reports about the Brewers, the city of Milwaukee and playing at Miller Park, a conversation that made Aoki more comfortable in signing an incentive-rich, two-year contract with the Brewers, who will wait to determine exactly how he’ll fit in until they see him in action.

That process began Thursday, when Aoki met the media, then took batting practice with second baseman Rickie Weeks on a back field at Maryvale Baseball Park.

Check out Brewers.com later today for the full story of Aoki’s debut day in camp. Here’s a photo of Aoki and Weeks:

AP Photo/Morry Gash

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Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said he understands Ryan Braun will report to camp on Friday along with the rest of the position players. The skipper also hopes for a resolution of Braun’s possible suspension by then.

“It would be nice to know,” said Roenicke, echoing a sentiment that runs throughout the clubhouse. “Obviously, I wish it would have happened earlier, but hopefully [know] before we start.”

The team’s first full-squad workout is Saturday.

Besides Braun, third baseman Aramis Ramirez, shortstop Alex Gonzalez and reliever Francisco Rodriguez had yet to make an appearance at Maryvale Baseball Park as of Thursday morning. Rodriguez has reportedly been distracted by a dispute with his former representatives, who he says did not properly file a no-trade list as part of Rodriguez’s last deal with the Mets. That allowed the Mets to trade Rodriguez last July to the Brewers, for whom he has been a set-up man instead of a closer.

Roenicke downplayed Rodriguez’s absense.

“I’m hoping that he comes in today sometime and is ready to go [Friday],” Roenicke said. “We’ll see. … He’s got some things that he’ll discuss with you guys if he wants you to know. You know, this is voluntary workouts, and every single year that I can remember, there was always somebody who wasn’t here on those first few days. So it is not a concern with me at all.

“Frankie is a veteran. He knows what he needs to do in his career. I mean, I’d like him here just because I like him as part of the guys. But as far as getting his work in, Frankie knows what he needs to do to be ready for Opening Day.”

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Veteran infielder Edgar Renteria is considering retirement after spurning a pair of Minor League offers, his agent told FoxSports.com on Wednesday. Brewers GM Doug Melvin said one of those offers came from Milwaukee.

The Brewers are relatively thin at shortstop, with free agent pick-up Alex Gonzalez expected to start and non-roster invitee Cesar Izturis the most likely backup. Two other shortstops in camp, Edwin Maysonet and Jeff Bianchi, are likely to begin the season in the Minors.

“I don’t blame [Renteria] for saying no,” Melvin said. “He was a World Series MVP two years ago.”

Renteria won that honor with the Giants in his third trip to the World Series. He delivered the winning hit in Game 7 of the 1993 1997 Series for the Marins — scoring current Brewers staffer Craig Counsell — and also made it with the 2004 Cardinals.

Agent Barry Meister said Renteria, 35, would wait to formally file retirement papers in case a solid offer came along. He is a five-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glover.

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