Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich, left, greets teammate Ryan Braun after the Brewers announced Yelich's multi-year contract extension at the teams' spring training facility Friday, March 6, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

By STEVE MEGARGEE

AP Sports Writer

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers veteran Ryan Braun said he’s more likely to continue playing beyond 2020 because of the unusual circumstances of this pandemic-shortened season.

Braun said in January that he was considering retiring after the season. He was more bullish on his baseball future Saturday as the Brewers held the first full-squad workout of their summer camp ahead of the 60-game season that starts later this month.

“I feel like it’s more likely that I play another year than I anticipated a few months back,” Braun said.

Braun, the 2011 NL MVP, is entering the final season of a five-year, $105 million contract and will turn 37 in November.

Those circumstances help explain why Braun was uncertain about whether he would play in 2021.

But Braun knows he’ll be fresher at the end of this season than he would be after 162 games. The NL also is adopting the designated hitter this season, a move that could help Braun lengthen his career.

“Obviously at this age and where I’m at in my career, it’s very appealing to me to have the option to DH for a decent percentage of my at-bats,” Braun said.

Brewers manager Craig Counsell has said Braun will spend some time at DH but would also play right field and first base.

“We’ll have a number of people in that role,” Counsell said. “There will not be a starting DH. For our team, you’ll see Ryan there. I probably liked it for Christian Yelich just as much when I saw the rule, the ability to keep him in the lineup for more games, especially at the start.”

He considered not playing this season, and he still hasn’t completely ruled out taking the year off.

Braun’s wife, Larisa, gave birth to the couple’s third child — a boy named Carter James — on May 31.