House That Hank Built
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Atlanta Braves free agent profile: Michael Brantley

By Benjamin Chase

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 12: Michael Brantley #23 of the Cleveland Indians runs out a one run double off Chad Bell of the Detroit Tigers during the fourth inning at Progressive Field on April 12, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Tigers 9-3. (Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 12: Michael Brantley #23 of the Cleveland Indians runs out a one run double off Chad Bell of the Detroit Tigers during the fourth inning at Progressive Field on April 12, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Tigers 9-3. (Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves
BOSTON, MA – AUGUST 20: Michael Branttley #23 of the Cleveland Indians rounds the bases on his two-run home run in the sixth inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on August 20, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

A Cleveland mixed bag

Brantley built up to one of the top outfielders in the league, hitting .288/.348/.402 with 37 doubles in 2012 in his first full season. Over the next three seasons, Brantley averaged .308/.366/.462 with 39 doubles, 15 homers, and 18 steals.

He made his All-Star debut in 2014, but after his run from 2012-2015, Brantley has struggled to stay healthy. In 2016 and 2017, Brantley played just 101 combined games, though he did hit .292/.349/.427 with 22 doubles, 9 home runs, and 12 stolen bases in the 418 plate appearances he received.

Brantley returned in 2018 to accumulate the 2nd-most plate appearances of his career, hitting .309/.364/.468 with 36 doubles, 17 home runs, and 12 stolen bases. Brantley spent his season in left field, finally settled on an outfield position.

While Brantley missed much of the 2016-2017 seasons due to his ankle being injured, he did have surgery in the fall of 2017, and he’s reported no follow up issues due to the surgery. The games he missed this year were due to a bruised foot late in the season that was not related.

Brantley has missed time with shoulder injuries as well, which has limited his future positioning to left field only.

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