MLBbro Michael Brantley announced his retirement from MLB on Friday bringing an end to a storied 15-year career.
A second-generation baseball player, Brantley was drafted in the seventh round of the 2005 draft by the Milwaukee Brewers straight out of High School after dominating in his senior season at Fort Pierce Central High School with a .595 batting average and 32 stolen bases.
The Brewers would trade Brantley to the Cleveland Indians in 2008 as part of a CC Sabathia trade as the “player to be named”, a stipulation that Cleveland was given if the Brewers made the playoffs that year after the deal.
He would make his debut for the Indians in 2009 where this MLBbro will be remembered for being one of the best contact hitters in baseball earning him the nickname “Dr. Smooth”.
He would produce a slash line of .295/.351/.430 with an OPS of .781 during his 10 years in a Cleveland Indians uniform, making three all-star appearances helping turn Cleveland into a perennial AL Central contender and playoff team from 2013-2018.
In 2014, Brantley would sign a four-year, $25 million extension prior to the season. The former player to be named would reward Cleveland by having a breakout season that saw him slash for .327/ .385/ .506 with 20 home runs and 23 stolen bases, finishing third in AL MVP voting behind Mike Trout and Victor Martinez.
Of course, Brantley will be remembered for his growth in production, but Brantley will also be recognized for being a consummate professional, and a leader of men.
In 2018 after being bounced by the Astros in the postseason, The writing was on the wall that the team were looking to go in a different direction. Pitcher Francisco Lindor credited Brantley for teaching how to be a professional. Cleveland Manager Terry Francona described Brantley as a reliable presence who could fall out of bed and collect a couple of hits.
Brantley was so influential that during his exit everyone cried in the room. His road in Cleveland had come to an end but the journey would not be finished.
Brantley would sign with the Houston Astros after the 2018 season where he would make two more All-Star Appearances and capture a World Series Championship in 2022.
He would face an injury preventing him from playing in that World Series, but his leadership would shine through when he led a team meeting where catcher Martin Maldonaldo told The Athletic “He’s the reason we won the World Series. He led the best team meeting I ever heard. When he was hurt, he was always helping other in the dugout.”
Brantley would finish his career with an amazing 10.7% strikeout percentage, 1,656 hits, 730 RBI, 129 HR, and a batting average just shy of .300. We congratulate MLBbro Michael “Dr. Smooth” Brantley on a great career and look forward to what he will accomplish in his second act.
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