A happy Thanksgiving for Ryan Braun and Brewers fans

Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun is having a happy Thanksgiving, along with baseball fans who heard Wednesday that his surgically repaired right thumb is “feeling amazing” after taking some swings recently.

Braun has struggled with nerve damage near his thumb for the better part of two seasons. It was to the point that “it would hurt shaking hands, writing, doing everyday activities -- and I don’t feel that at all. I’m excited about that,” Braun told reporters.

The former Granada Hills High and University of Miami standout was greeting fans as they pulled up in their cars at Miller Park to drop off canned goods for a Thanksgiving food drive.

“My hope is it gets back to 100%,” Braun said of his pain-free hand. “Right now, I don’t feel anything and I haven’t been able to say that in two years.”

Braun only played in 135 games last season, when he batted a career-low .266 with 19 home runs and 81 runs batted in. Braun had averaged 34 homers and 107 RBIs in his first six seasons with the Brewers, including an MVP year in 2011.

Then the injured hand and later a 65-game suspension for his involvement in the Biogenesis scandal cost him all but 61 games in 2013.

“I’ve been able to do everything full-go,” Braun said. “I’m not limited in any way. I hit a lot right after I had the procedure done. I’ll do my typical routine when I get back into baseball-specific activities in late December.”