CLEVELAND — Former Cleveland Indians outfielder Michael Brantley, who earned the nickname "Dr. Smooth" for his sweet swing and consistent hitting, has announced his retirement from Major League Baseball at the age of 36.
“I have young kids, and now it’s time to be a dad, first and foremost,” the five-time All-Star told MLB.com's Jon Morosi. “It’s time for me to be home 24/7, watch my kids grow up and not miss important milestones.”
In 15 seasons with Cleveland and Houston, Brantley slashed .298/.355/.439 (117 OPS+), hitting 129 home runs, stealing 125 bases, and collecting over 1,500 hits.
Brantley came to Cleveland as the "player to be named later" in the blockbuster trade that sent C.C. Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008. He made his MLB debut in 2009 and spent the next decade with the Tribe.
In 2014, Brantley finished third in the vote for American League MVP, hitting .327/.385/.506 with 20 homers, 97 RBI and 23 stolen bases. He also won the Silver Slugger Award.
Injuries plagued Brantley for much of his career. When Cleveland made its march to the World Series in 2016, Brantley was forced to watch from afar due to a shoulder injury that limited him to just 11 games. As he returned to All-Star form in 2017, an ankle injury suffered in August kept Brantley out of action until the very end of the regular season. He went 1-for-11 at the plate in Cleveland's ALDS loss to the Yankees.
Brantley signed with Houston as a free agent following the 2018 season and spent his final five seasons with the Astros. Despite missing much of the 2022 season with injuries, he was able to hoist the World Series trophy when Houston defeated Philadelphia. Brantley fought his way back from injuries again in 2023 to contribute to the Astros' postseason run, getting four hits in a crucial late-season win over Seattle. He also homered during Houston's ALDS-clinching win over Minnesota.
"With great appreciation, I'm announcing the end of an amazing journey in Baseball," Brantley posted on X through his agency, Excel Sports Management. "It's been a great honor to live out my dreams and wear a Major League uniform for the past 15 years. Representing the Houston Astros and the Cleveland Guardians (formerly Indians) has been an incredible privilege."
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