Michael Brantley

Michael Charles Brantley Jr. (born May 15, 1987), is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians and the Houston Astros. The son of former MLB player and hitting coach Mickey Brantley, he is a left-handed batter and thrower. After starring for Fort Pierce Central High School in Fort Pierce, Florida, the Milwaukee Brewers selected Brantley in the seventh round of the 2005 MLB draft. During the 2008 season, the Brewers traded him to the Indians along with other prospects for pitcher CC Sabathia. Brantley made his MLB debut with the Indians in 2009. During the 2014 campaign, Brantley won both an MLB All-Star nomination and a Silver Slugger Award for the first time. That year, he achieved career highs in numerous offensive categories and garnered a third-place finish in the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award voting. He was subsequently named to four consecutive All-Star team between 2017 and 2021. Brantley finished in the top ten in batting average in the AL six times. He appeared in two World Series (2019 and 2021) as a member of the Astros.