Michael Brantley, Left Field, Houston Astros

Date of Birth: 5/15/1987
Birthplace: Bellevue, Washington
Nickname: Dr. Smooth

Michael Brantley, left fielder for the Houston Astros, was first drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2005 but he only played with their minor league teams. The Brewers traded him to the Cleveland Indians in October, 2008. He continued to play in the minor leagues through 2010, with his only major league playing time in 2009 in 28 games with the Indians. He ended his minor league career with a .303 batting average.

In 2011, his first full season in the major leagues, Brantley batted .266 with 120 hits, 24 doubles, and 13 stolen bases in 114 games. That season, he split his defensive time between left field (66 games) and center field (52 games). Brantley became a center fielder for the Indians in 2012. He had a good offensive season, batting .288 with 159 hits, 37 doubles, and 60 RBIs in 149 games.

Brantley had another good year in 2013, batting .284 with 158 hits, 26 doubles, 73 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases in 151 games. He was moved to left field and he made 257 putouts with no errors.

Brantley had his best season in 2014. He finished with a .327 batting average and he had career highs in hits (200), doubles (45), RBIs (97), and stolen bases (23) and he played in a career high 156 games. He won a Silver Slugger award for his accomplishments.

Brantley had another strong season in 2015. He batted .310 and he led major league baseball in doubles with 45 (a career high). He had 164 hits, 15 home runs, 15 stolen bases, and 84 RBIs in 137 games. Defensively, he played 101 games in left field and 28 games in center field and he made 212 putouts and 2 errors.

On November 9, 2015, Brantley had shoulder surgery. He spent most of the 2016 season on the DL, recovering from his surgery. He played in just 11 games with the Indians.

Brantley batted .299 in 90 games with the Indians in 2017. He finished the season with 101 hits, 20 doubles, 52 RBIs, and 50 strikeouts to 31 walks. Defensively, as a left fielder in 87 games, he made 135 putouts and 1 error.

Brantley finished the 2018 season with 176 hits, 36 doubles, 17 home runs, 76 RBIs, 60 strikeouts to 48 walks, and a .309 batting average in 143 games. Defensively, as a left fielder in 134 games, he made 221 putouts and 1 error. In the postseason, he had 2 hits and 1 RBI in 10 at-bats in 3 games.

Brantley became a free agent on October 29, 2018. He signed with the Astros on December 19, 2018. He had an excellent first season in Houston in 2019, batting .311 with 179 hits, 40 doubles, 22 home runs, 90 RBIs, and 66 strikeouts to 51 walks in 148 games. Defensively, as a left fielder in 120 games, he made 159 putouts and 3 errors. He also played well in the postseason, batting .286 with 20 hits, 1 home run, and 4 RBIs in 70 at-bats in 18 games.

Brantley played in 46 games in 2020. He finished the season with 51 hits, 15 doubles, 5 home runs, 22 RBIs, 28 strikeouts to 17 walks, and a .300 batting average. Defensively, he played 19 games in left field, and he was the DH in 26 games. In the postseason, he had 18 hits, 2 doubles, 3 home runs, 11 RBIs, and a .346 batting average in 52 at-bats in 13 games.

Brantley became a free agent on October 28, 2020. He re-signed with the Astros on January 25, 2021. He spent time on the IL in 2021 with right hamstring tightness and right knee soreness. He finished the season with 146 hits, 29 doubles, 47 RBIs, 53 strikeouts to 33 walks, and a .311 batting average in 121 games. In the postseason, he had 22 hits, 4 doubles, and 9 RBIs in 69 at-bats in 16 games.

Career batting statistics for Brantley through 2021 include:

• 1,366 games played
• 1,571 hits
• 332 doubles
• 122 home runs
• 124 stolen bases
• 687 RBIs
• 626 strikeouts to 452 walks
• .298 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Brantley as a left fielder through 2021 include:

• 895 games played
• 1,425 putouts
• 10 errors
• .993 fielding percentage

Personal Life

Brantley's father Mickey played with the Seattle Mariners from 1986 through 1989.

Brantley and his wife Melissa have one daughter.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Michael Brantley
ESPN - Michael Brantley