CLEVELAND — Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley spent a decade patrolling left field and balancing the middle of the batting order for the Cleveland Indians, and in his return to Progressive Field this week, he will start for the American League in the 2019 MLB All-Star Game.
And that moment will not be lost on the typically stoic Brantley.
“It’s very special,” Brantley said.
“Like I said before, just flying in last night, seeing the buildings and being back in Cleveland for the first time in a different uniform, I got butterflies. I’m really excited to see my clubbies, medical staff, the people that worked around the ballpark and just say, ‘Hi,’ to them again. I miss them and I look forward to seeing everyone.”
In 1,051 games over his 10 years with the Indians, Brantley collected 1,195 hits in 4,055 at-bats (.295 batting average) with 248 doubles, 19 triples, 87 home runs, 528 runs batted in, 543 runs scored and 351 walks drawn against 479 strikeouts.
In addition to the .295 batting average, Brantley had career .351 on-base, .430 slugging and .781 on-base-plus-slugging percentages.
“I never wanted to rule out anything,” Brantley said of a possible return to the Indians for 2019. “My goal was to go into the offseason and make the best decision for me and my family.”
Brantley’s best season came in 2014, when he finished third in the voting for the AL Most Valuable Player Award.
Brantley, who was the “player to be named” in the Indians’ 2008 mid-season trade of then front-of-the-rotation pitcher CC Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers, was the club leader and set career highs in most offensive categories in 2014.
Brantley was the first player in the 114-year history of the Indians’ franchise, and ninth player in MLB annals, to have 200 hits, and at least 45 doubles, 20 home runs and 20 steals in the same season. Brantley was the ninth member of the Indians’ 20-home run, 20-steals club, and the first Cleveland player since 1996 to reach the 200-hit plateau.
In 2014, Brantley finished second in the American League in hits (200), third in batting average (.327) and doubles (45), fourth in on-base percentage (.385), tied for sixth in runs scored (94), seventh in on-base plus slugging percentage (.890), 11th in steals (23) and 12th in runs batted in (97).
“I’m very appreciative of what the Indians have done for me in my career,” Brantley said. “I would’ve loved to be back with the Cleveland Indians, but I signed with Houston. They welcomed me with open arms and I’m glad to be a Houston Astro.”
Brantley expressed how much he enjoyed his time in Cleveland and the lifelong relationships made during his decade in the organization, which is why that when the Indians play anybody but the Astros, he will be in their corner.
“I know how hard they work because I worked right next to them for 10 seasons. Just because I’m with another organization, I’m not going to root against them. I want them to do the best, and when we face each other, we’re going to go at it.”
Brantley is not sure what kind of reception he will get from the fans when introduced in the starting lineup tonight. Regardless of the ovation, Brantley will do his best to let the fans know how much their support meant to him during his time in Cleveland.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Brantley said. “I haven’t thought about it too much. I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen, but I am excited to go back and play on that field and in front of these great fans.”
