Michael Brantley
Born: 5/15/1987 in Bellevue, WA, USA
MLB Debut: 2009-09-01 | Final Game: 2023-10-01
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 209 lbs
Full name: Michael Charles Brantley
Biography
Michael Brantley, born in 1987, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball whose career spanned from 2009 until his retirement on October 1, 2023. Known for his exceptional batting skills and consistent offensive production, Brantley played in 1,445 games, amassing 1,656 hits and achieving a remarkable batting average of .298. His ability to combine power and finesse at the plate was evident in his career totals of 129 home runs and 720 RBIs, alongside 125 stolen bases, highlighting his versatility as a run producer and base runner.
Brantley's contributions to the game earned him five All-Star selections, a testament to his status as one of the elite players of his era. He was celebrated not only for his offensive prowess but also for his professionalism and leadership on and off the field. His career unfolded during a dynamic period in baseball marked by an emphasis on analytics and advanced metrics, where his ability to consistently hit for average and drive in runs made him a valuable asset to his teams. As a player who consistently performed at a high level, Michael Brantley left an indelible mark on the sport, remembered for his skillful play and dedication to the game.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1445 | 5566 | 758 | 1656 | 348 | 25 | 129 | 720 | 125 | 485 | 658 | 0.298 | 0.355 | 0.439 | 0.794 | 10906.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | CLE | AL | 28 | 112 | 10 | 35 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 19 | 0.312 | -82.0 |
| 2010 | CLE | AL | 72 | 297 | 38 | 73 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 10 | 22 | 38 | 0.246 | -792.9 |
| 2011 | CLE | AL | 114 | 451 | 63 | 120 | 24 | 4 | 7 | 46 | 13 | 34 | 76 | 0.266 | -253.9 |
| 2012 | CLE | AL | 149 | 552 | 63 | 159 | 37 | 4 | 6 | 60 | 12 | 53 | 56 | 0.288 | 456.4 |
| 2013 | CLE | AL | 151 | 556 | 66 | 158 | 26 | 3 | 10 | 73 | 17 | 40 | 67 | 0.284 | 188.0 |
| 2014 | CLE | AL | 156 | 611 | 94 | 200 | 45 | 2 | 20 | 97 | 23 | 52 | 56 | 0.327 | 3341.7 |
| 2015 | CLE | AL | 137 | 529 | 68 | 164 | 45 | 0 | 15 | 84 | 15 | 60 | 51 | 0.310 | 2115.8 |
| 2016 | CLE | AL | 11 | 39 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 0.231 | 0.0 |
| 2017 | CLE | AL | 90 | 338 | 47 | 101 | 20 | 1 | 9 | 52 | 11 | 31 | 50 | 0.299 | 458.3 |
| 2018 | CLE | AL | 143 | 570 | 89 | 176 | 36 | 2 | 17 | 76 | 12 | 48 | 60 | 0.309 | 1672.5 |
| 2019 | HOU | AL | 148 | 575 | 88 | 179 | 40 | 2 | 22 | 90 | 3 | 51 | 66 | 0.311 | 1924.3 |
| 2020 | HOU | AL | 46 | 170 | 24 | 51 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 22 | 2 | 17 | 28 | 0.300 | 410.3 |
| 2021 | HOU | AL | 121 | 469 | 68 | 146 | 29 | 3 | 8 | 47 | 1 | 33 | 53 | 0.311 | 936.6 |
| 2022 | HOU | AL | 64 | 243 | 28 | 70 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 26 | 1 | 31 | 30 | 0.288 | 560.7 |
| 2023 | HOU | AL | 15 | 54 | 7 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.278 | -29.6 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | 234 | 21 | 68 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 26 | 24 | 44 | 0.291 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | ALCS | HOU | 3 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0.182 |
| 2023 | ALDS2 | HOU | 2 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.286 |
| 2021 | ALCS | HOU | 6 | 26 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0.269 |
| 2021 | ALDS1 | HOU | 4 | 19 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0.368 |
| 2021 | WS | HOU | 6 | 24 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.333 |
| 2020 | ALCS | HOU | 7 | 26 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 0.346 |
| 2020 | ALDS2 | HOU | 4 | 19 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0.368 |
| 2020 | ALWC3 | HOU | 2 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0.286 |
| 2019 | ALCS | HOU | 6 | 23 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0.304 |
| 2019 | ALDS1 | HOU | 5 | 19 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0.211 |
| 2019 | WS | HOU | 7 | 28 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0.321 |
| 2018 | ALDS2 | CLE | 3 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.200 |
| 2017 | ALDS1 | CLE | 3 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.091 |
| 2013 | ALWC | CLE | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 1273 | 1245 | 2312 | 65 | 16 | 14 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | CLE | OF | 28 | 26 | 59 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | CLE | OF | 72 | 69 | 161 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2011 | CLE | OF | 111 | 108 | 236 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 2012 | CLE | OF | 144 | 140 | 336 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| 2013 | CLE | OF | 151 | 144 | 257 | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 | CLE | OF | 147 | 146 | 271 | 12 | 1 | 2 |
| 2015 | CLE | OF | 118 | 118 | 212 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| 2016 | CLE | OF | 11 | 10 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | CLE | OF | 87 | 86 | 135 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 | CLE | OF | 134 | 134 | 221 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| 2019 | HOU | OF | 123 | 118 | 167 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020 | HOU | OF | 19 | 19 | 39 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 2021 | HOU | OF | 89 | 88 | 128 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2022 | HOU | OF | 29 | 29 | 59 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | HOU | OF | 10 | 10 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 934 |
| Center Field | 356 |
| Right Field | 17 |
| Designated Hitter | 162 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | MLB Players Choice Comeback Player | |
| 2014 | Player of the Week | Week of 2014-06-15 |
| 2014 | Silver Slugger | OF |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | CLE | AL | $7,375,000 |
| 2015 | CLE | AL | $5,875,000 |
| 2014 | CLE | AL | $1,500,000 |
| 2013 | CLE | AL | $526,900 |
| 2012 | CLE | AL | $495,300 |
| 2011 | CLE | AL | $421,800 |
| 2010 | CLE | AL | $400,800 |
| Total Career Earnings | $16,594,800 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 28th | 1.0 | 420 | 0 |
| 2014 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 3rd | 191.0 | 420 | 0 |