MLB
Michael Brantley announces his retirement after 15 MLB seasons
One of the smoothest outfielders to ever play the game, Brantley was a firm fan favorite with the Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros.
Few players have so exemplified the widening gulf between analytics and feel like Michael Brantley. Drafted in 2005 by the Milwaukee Brewers, he made his MLB debut in 09 with the then-Indians, where he spent a decade, making three All-Star teams and finishing third in AL MVP voting for 2014.
In 2018, Brantley joined the Astros, being named to two further All-Star teams and playing a key role in their 2022 World Series Championship run.
The tail end of his career was dogged by shoulder injury, and he underwent four separate surgeries on it, missing all but 15 games over the 2023 season.
With the switch to analytics-driven baseball management over the past few seasons, Brantley would often find himself struggling to find a permanent place in the lineup. His low power stats would make even Dusty Baker, a manager who led with his heart, question Brantley’s long-term usefulness.
But fans and players loved him. They would consistently go to bat for Brantley, and it was easy to see why. Playing with every fibre of his being, Brantley would reward their faith with clutch hits, catches, and missile-like throws from the outfield.
When the Astros won the title in 22, Brantley was brought out to the center of the field and given the honor of raising the trophy. Brantley had missed the back half of the season, but there was nobody else who was thought a better candidate by the team to represent the dogged faith and determination that got them there.
“That was the most special part for me,” Brantley told MLB.com’s Jon Morosi. “My teammates putting me front and center, telling me to raise the trophy up. I still get goosebumps thinking about it. I’m always going to remember that.”
As he entered free agency this winter, he decided that it was time to go. Nobody had to show him the door. A real champ, cut from the old cloth.
“I didn’t have that much thinking to do,” said Brantley. “I had been talking with my family about it a lot during the year. It was a long season for me. My family was with me for the playoffs. That night, there were just a lot of hugs. I am so grateful for the opportunity to play baseball and live the dream I’ve had.”
Michael Brantley finishes his MLB career with 1656 base hits, 129 home runs, 720 RBIs, 125 stolen bases and a .298 average.